Racine – Rick Allen Leonard, age 62, passed away unexpectedly at Ascension All Saints Hospital on Tuesday, August 29, 2017.

Rick was born in Racine on December 20, 1954 to the late Floyd A. and Beverly M. (nee: Bolter) Leonard, Sr. In his early years, he attended Starbuck Middle School and Washington Park High School where he developed a love for sports excelling in football, basketball, and track.  He also had a love for cars, the favorite being his 1940 Ford 2 door sedan which he drove each day during his high school years.  Rick reconditioned the vehicle in later years so that his sons could drive the car to their high school proms just as he and Kathy did in 1973.  He graduated from Washington Park High School.  He was awarded a full athletic scholarship to Carthage College where he played basketball and studied Engineering.  Shortly thereafter, he was challenged with renal failure.  On September 14, 1976, Rick received a kidney transplant donated by his sister, Pamela.  His transplant was extremely successful, lasting 38 years being one of the longest lasting transplants in Wisconsin.  On September 20, 1980 at Bethany United Methodist Church, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Kathleen L. (nee: Kierstyn).  In 1981, together with his brother Skip, they purchased the business started by their father in 1959.  They founded Floyd & Sons, Inc., aka "Floyd's Towing".  Rick and Skip worked together for the last 30+ years building their business and he currently served as Vice President.  Rick's expertise of heavy duty recovery and incident management was well-known throughout the towing industry.

Rick's health was again challenged in 2015, as his kidney began to fail and was placed on dialysis. He was currently pursuing a second transplant.  All of his sons were perfect matches for donation, and despite trying, he could not receive the transplant due to complications.

Rick was an active board member (past President and Chairman) of the Wisconsin Towing Association and was also a longstanding member of the Towing & Recovery Association of America. He was very passionate about the towing industry in general, but more specifically, had a special interest in the continuous improvement of the trade.  He was instrumental (along with many others) in the development of the "Move Over Law" law which requires drivers to shift lanes or slowdown in order to provide a "safe zone" for emergency vehicles.  Rick greatly valued the friendships made over the years with his fellow association members.

Outside of work, he enjoyed fishing, sports – especially basketball and football, grilling out, going to car shows, puttering in his yard, taking trips Up-North and, above all, spending time with his family. Rick's three children meant the world to him.  He taught them the ethic of hard work, to be a man of your word, and molded them into the special young men that they are today.

Rick is dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his loving wife and best friend of nearly 37 years, Kathleen (nee: Kierstyn) Leonard; their children, Chad (Lori Gorkowski) Leonard, Chase (Shawn Lueke) Leonard and Cody Leonard; brother, Floyd "Skip" (Julia) Leonard, Jr.; sister, Pamela Leonard; brothers-in-law, Wally (Sue) Kierstyn and David (Mick) Kierstyn; aunts, Laura Bolter and Wendy Bolter; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many close friends – too numerous to mention all by name.

In addition to his parents, Rick was preceded in death by his special uncle, Wayne ; uncles, Chet (Lois) Bolter, Rodger, aunt Marge (Mike) Kemen and by Kathy's parents, Mary Lou Kierstyn and Walter (Bonnie) Kierstyn.

A memorial service celebrating Rick's life will be held on Sunday, September 3, 2017 at 3:00 pm at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home. A luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Sunday from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Private interment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials to the All Saints Foundation – please note Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or to the "Wall of the Fallen" (for towing & recovery specialists killed in the line of duty).

A special thank you to Rick's sister, Pamela for her generous gift of life.

A heartfelt note of thanks to Rick's doctors: Dr. John Brennan, Dr. James Tierney, Dr. Pankaj Dhingra, and Dr. Liping Xie, the staff at Mt. Pleasant Police Dept. and South Shore Fire Dept., Davita Clinic (Sue); and to Ascension All Saints ICU (Denise, Kayla, Matt, and Gary), and Rick's staff at Floyd's Towing for the compassionate care and support given in his time of need.

Rick…you "Coloured My World"…love you always, Kath.

Service Details

Memorial Service: Sunday, September 3, 2017 at 3:00 pm at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home

Visitation: in the funeral home on Sunday from 12:00 – 3:00 pm

Memorial Suggestions

Memorials to "All Saints Foundation" (please note Intensive Care Unit – ICU) or to "Wall of the Fallen" (for towing & recovery specialists killed in the line of duty)