Leonhart, Marilyn Ruby (Halvorson) -- 1927 - 1999

SLETTEN, HALVORSON, LEONHART, GALLAGHER, WIKAN, PROEHL, HANSON, FRANA, SPILDE

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/3/2010 at 18:21:25

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999.

Marilynn Ruby Leonhart, 72, of Bluffton died Monday, Oct. 25 1999, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct 27, at 11 a.m., at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, with the Rev. Hans Floan officiating.

Kathy Tollefsrud was the organist. Soloist Mary Arneson sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "How Great Thou Art".

Casket bearers were Daniel Spilde, Rob Wikan, Thomas Gallagher, Tyler Gallagher, Matthew Leonhart, Jason Leonhart and Patrick Gallagher.

Honorary bearers were Mendy Wikarn, Kristin Leonhart, Deana Hageman and Jennifer Leonhart.

Interment was at the Burr Oak Cemetery. The French & Balik Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Marilyn Ruby (Halvorson) Leonhart was born Feb. 25, 1927, in Decorah, the daughter of Roy and Mae (Sletten) Halvorson.

She attended Decorah schools and graduated from Decorah High School in 1945.

Marilynn married Dean Leonhart Feb. 4, 1945, at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. Marilynn and Dean lived in the Bluffton area their entire lives.

She worked at Deco Products from 1965 until 1992, retiring in 1993. Marilynn was a member of Burr Oak Lutheran Church.

She enjoyed quilting, sewing, crafting, gardening, canning, and spending time with her family and friends.

Marilynn also enjoyed the monthly luncheon reunions with her classmates and having coffee with her friends and neighbors.

Survivors include children Mary and John Gallagher of Burr Oak, Bill and Sue Leonhart of Guttenberg, Kathy and Ron Wikan of Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Fred and Cindy Leonhart of Bluffton; 10 grandchildren, Deana Hageman and husband John, Daniel Spilde and wife Wendy, Thomas, Patrick and Tyler Gallagher, Matthew and Jennifer Leonhart; Rob Wikan and wife JJ., Mendy Wikan, and Jason and Kristin Leonhart; and four great-grandchildren, Megan Hageman, Hailey and Hunter Spilde, and Aspen Wikan.

Also surviving are her twin sister, Mavis Rose and Otto Proehl of La Crosse, Wis.; sister Virginia and Arlin Hanson of Decorah; brother Roger Halvorson of Decorah; brother-in-law Julius Frana of Calmar; and many nieces and nephews.

Marilynn Leonhart was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dean, who died Oct. 5, 1999; daughter Linda Leonhart; daughter Carol Spilde and her husband Fritz; one grandchild; one sister, Sonja Frana; and one sister-in-law, Helen Halvorson.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.