David Leo Henry

David Leo Henry, 57, of La Crescent was called home to be with his Lord Friday, Oct. 2, bringing to an end a 12-year battle with cancer. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.
David was born on Oct. 30, 1957, to Edward and Eleanor (Pelzel) Henry in Heron Lake, Minn. He graduated from Worthington High School in 1976. He completed a degree in architectural drafting at Jackson Vocational-Technical School, in Jackson, Minn. Following graduation, he moved to La Crescent to work at CBS Homes, where he met his wife Cindy Conrad of Cashton, Wis. They married on Aug. 9, 1980. Thirteen months later, they welcomed their only son, Ryan.
David’s life centered on family, and he worked hard to provide for those he most loved. He was employed as a press operator at May Printing Company, St. Cloud, Minn., for several years before returning to La Crescent, where he continued his career at Inland Printing in La Crosse. He was employed there for more than 25 years until discontinuing work due to his health.
David dedicated his life to the service of others. He and Cindy chaperoned numerous youth ministry mission trips at Crucifixion parish. He was in his element when using tools to build, remodel or repair – a gift he was known for among his family and friends. He put these talents to work for others as a team member on mission trips to Ohio and South Dakota.
Despite declining health, he spent a week in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina with a group from the Franciscan Spirituality Center. The group repaired damaged homes and provided hope to beleaguered people in need.
David had a love for the young and old. As a library volunteer at Crucifixion Elementary School, he read to groups of students and assisted in the office. He also volunteered for Neighbors In Action, driving elderly residents to appointments. David and Cindy also delivered Meals on Wheels together.
In David’s final year of life, he volunteered once a week in the second grade classroom of his daughter-in-law, Maria, in Black River Falls. This gave him much happiness and fulfillment acting as a positive male role model and father figure to the students, who nicknamed him “Uncle Grandpa.” Though his energy waned, David could be found helping students with math problems, eating lunch among them in the cafeteria and playing games on the playground.
A private man with a quiet faith, David led by example, using the Lord as his guide in his cherished roles as husband and father. He was a well-loved brother, cherished uncle and valued friend to those who knew him.
David is survived by his wife, Cindy, and his son, Ryan (Maria), both of La Crescent; his mother, Eleanor, of La Crescent; brothers Richard (Dorothy) of Port Clinton, Ohio, and Mark (JoAnn) of St. Cloud; sisters Kathy (Wayne) Strittmater of La Crescent and Mary Kay (Scott) May of St. Cloud, as well as many nieces and nephews who loved him. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward, a brother, Robert and an infant sister, Suzanne.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent. The Rev. Gregory Havel and the Rev. Bradley Pelzel, David’s cousin, will concelebrate the Mass. A visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the chapel at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 111 South Oak Street, La Crescent, where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m.; and again at 10:30 a.m., Friday morning at Crucifixion Church. Burial will follow services in Crucifixion Catholic Cemetery.
A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice Staff for their loving service during David’s final days, as well as to Dr. Randolph Marks at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for his attentive and dedicated care. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the La Crosse Chapter of Habitat for Humanity or the La Crescent Neighbors In Action Program.