Leonard , Celine A. 1931-2010

CUNNINGHAM, LEONARD, HUNT

Posted By: IA Gen Web Volunteer
Date: 7/20/2010 at 14:54:51

Celine A. Leonard

ELKADER, Iowa -- Celine Ann Leonard, 79, of Apache Junction, Ariz., formerly of Elkader, Iowa, died Sunday, April 11, 2010, at Arizona Regional Medical Center, Apache Junction.

Memorial services will be at noon Saturday, June 5, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Elkader, with the Rev. Paul R. Peters officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Elkader. Friends may call after 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

She was born on March 26, 1931, in rural Elkader, Iowa, at home on the family farm near Mederville in Cox Creek Township, daughter of John and Catherine (Cunningham) Leonard. She went to grade school in Littleport and attended Bethlehem Academy, Fairbault, Minn., and Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

Celine began her working career as a first-grade teacher at the public school in Manchester, teaching there for several years. In 1967, she moved to the West Coast where she worked for Air West for a few years before joining Alaska Airlines in Seattle. She later transferred to their Anchorage location. Celine worked as a trainer for 28 years before retiring from Alaska Airlines in 1995. After her retirement, she moved to Arizona, living briefly in Tempe and Douglas, before moving to Apache Junction.

Celine was very active in her retirement community, where she enjoyed many friends. She belonged to the Ladies of the Moose, was an avid Mahjong player and organized many monthly retirement community trips to casinos in the area.

Surviving are a brother, Richard (Stephanie) Leonard, of Palos Heights, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Minerva Leonard, of Sycamore, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Stephen, Lloyd and John Leonard; a sister, Marjorie Hunt; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Dubuque Telegraph Herald, June 3, 2010.