Bernette Leonard
 Born: 07/10/1920
Birth Location: Emmetsburg, Iowa
Death Date: 03/20/2007
Death Location:Emmetsburg
Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 23, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery.
Visitation: The family will greet friends from 4-8:00 p.m., Thursday at the Joyce Funeral Home where there will be a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.
Bernette (Donahue) Leonard was born July 10, 1920, the twin daughter of John and Mary “Molly” (Miller) Donahue. She was raised on a farm west of Emmetsburg and received her education from St. Mary’s Academy. On July 20, 1938, Bernette Donahue was united in marriage to John Leonard. They made their home just one mile east of where Mrs. Leonard was born and raised. After the death of her husband John, in February of 1964, Mrs. Leonard continued to reside there until her health began to fail. She was employed for a time at Lakeside Lutheran Home and later worked at Berkley Mfg. in Emmetsburg until the time of its’ closure. Mrs. Leonard was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was an avid participant her entire life. She had a passion for flower gardening and bird watching. She was very proud of her Irish ancestry, and was a devoted mother and grandmother. Surviving are her children: Jeanette (Ken) Cooke of Waverly, Iowa; John (Jo Ann) of Aurora, CO; Tom (Sue) of Emmetsburg; Gary (Sandra) of Emmetsburg; Mike (special friend, Jennifer) of Spencer; Deb (Rick) Rouse of Emmetsburg; a granddaughter, Annette (Rich) Gilman of Parker, CO whom she raised; a son-in-law, Delbert Petersen of Estherville; a sister, Dorothy (Leo) Gilman of Emmetsburg; thirty grandchildren and sixty-four great-grandchildren. On Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Bernette Leonard passed away at the Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg. She was 86. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; a daughter, Shirley Petersen; a daughter-in-law, Jutta Leonard; a grandson, Delray Petersen; a twin sister, Bernice Curry, as well as three other sisters: Mary Hypes, Ruth Leonard and Patricia Higgins.
 
Posted at: 03/26/2007
By: Laurie O'Dell Alejos
Annette, My thoughts and prayers are with you and Rich. Your Grandma waw great!! Take care. Laurie
Posted at: 03/22/2007
By: Jody Freeman Zarnowiec
Annette, You and your family have my deepest sympathy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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