Rev. Monsignor William P. Leonard 1915-2008

LEONARD, OCONNELL, HAINES, HOLLAND, SCHROEDER, URBAIN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 7/26/2017 at 22:00:32

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) — Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Rev. Monsignor William P. Leonard, 93, retired senior priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, died at 2:45 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at Nativity Catholic Church, with the Most Rev. Jerome Hanus, OSB, Archbishop of Dubuque, officiating and the Rev. Monsignor Francis P. Friedl, as homilist. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Garryowen, Iowa. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a wake service at 2 p.m. Friends also may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.

He was born on June 30, 1915, in Bernard, Iowa, son of William P. and Josephine (O'Connell) Leonard.

He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque and completed his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary, in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained on April 17, 1943, at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque, by Archbishop Francis J. L. Beckman.

Monsignor Leonard served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Waterloo, Iowa, from 1943 to 1952, and at St. Martin's in Cascade, Iowa, in 1952. He was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph's and St. Ann's, Harpers Ferry, Iowa, from 1952 to 1958. He then completed his graduate studies at Creighton University. He was appointed to the faculty of Loras College and served from 1958 to 1970, and also served as rector of St. Pius X Seminary. He was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from 1970 to 1980, and Nativity Parish in Dubuque from 1980, until his retirement on July 9, 1987, during which time he also served as Dean of the Dubuque Deanery.

He was named a Prelate of Honor (monsignor) in 1987, by Pope John Paul II.

Monsignor Leonard was a very kind hearted Priest, who was very generous with his time and talents especially in his retirement. He helped out in many tri-state area parishes and convents, filling in for pastors and chaplains whenever he was needed.

Surviving are nieces and nephews, William "Bill" (Kay) Leonard, of Onalaska, Wis., Sharon (Roland) Haines, of Arcadia, Wis., Marilyn (Tom) Holland, of La Crosse, Wis., James (Elaine) Leonard, of Madison, Wis., Patrick (Vicki) Leonard and Jo Anne Schroeder, both of Dubuque; and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Myrle Urbain and Mary Leonard; and four brothers, Joseph, Melvin (Nona), Paul (Betty) and Edmund (Ardella) Leonard; and a great-nephew, Michael Paul Leonard, in infancy.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Nativity Parish, Dubuque.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Stonehill Care Center and the staff of Villa Raphael, especially Patty, and his brother priests for all the kindness, and care they gave Monsignor Leonard.