Ann Leonard

Eleanor Ann Leonard, age 83, of Columbus, Minnesota, died Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at M Health Fairview in Wyoming, Minnesota.

Eleanor Ann Leonard was born November 19, 1939, in Riceville, Iowa, the daughter of Lloyd and Dorothy (Metz) Myers.  In her junior year of high school, Ann’s family moved to Minnesota where she graduated from Wabasha High School.  As luck would have it, the move to Minnesota is how she met the love of her life, Thomas Leonard.  Tom and Ann’s families lived blocks apart and during visits they connected, started dating and were married in 1960 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in West Albany, Minnesota. 

The first several years of their marriage were spent traveling and working in different parts of the Midwest with Acton Construction Company.  They later bought a home in Columbus, Minnesota where they raised their family and spent their entire lives.  Ann worked as an administrative assistant with Acton Construction for many years before working for Austin P. Keller Construction and finally Anoka County before her retirement. 

In her free time, she loved snowmobiling with Tom, gardening, watching her birds, having her neighbors over to hang out and talking on the phone.  Many memories surround her love of baking/cooking, including her famous popcorn balls, homemade caramels, and her overstocked candy drawer. 

Ann was preparing to move to a new home and on Tuesday as she was signing her signature for the last time to sell the home, that was so filled with love, memories, and laughter; she laid her pen down and transitioned to Heaven where her beloved husband was waiting for her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom; siblings, George, Ben, Gord, Fred, and Linda.  She will be forever missed by those who knew and loved her including her children, Wade (Debby) Leonard, Lori (Burnell) Olson, Thomas (Donna) Leonard; ten grandchildren Keegan, Colin, Kyle, Alisha, Nicole, Vanessa, Jocelyn, Courtney, Sophie, Mitchell; eight great grandchildren, Hailey, Noah, Emmitt, Reece, Levi, Harper, Victoria, Alexander; siblings, Bill, Barb, Nete, Connie, Donna, Lloyd Jr., Larry, Gary; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 24, 2023, at the Church of Saint Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake.  The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake and one hour prior to mass at the church.  Interment at Oak Park Cemetery, Columbus, Minnesota.