Jerome Leonard

Jerry Leonard died on Sunday, January 13, 2019 of complications brought on by Alzheimer's disease. He was born in Duluth Minnesota on February 15, 1937, the oldest of seven children born to Dell and Kathryn Leonard.  Jerry attended St. Anthony's School, Duluth Cathedral High School and received his B.S. degree from St. John's University in 1959.   Following graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army and served on active duty for 2-1/2 years.  On returning to Duluth he spent another 20 years in the Army Reserve ultimately becoming the Commander of the Engineering Company located on Park Point and ending his military career as a Major at Battalion Headquarters at Fort Snelling.  From 1962 to 1996, Jerry was employed by the State Farm Insurance Company in Duluth as an Insurance Adjuster.

In June 1963 Jerry married Donna Hocevar.  They spent 55 years together raising four sons, Patrick (Molly) children Margaret and Jack; Michael (Sharon) children Sean and Laifei; Joseph (Lana) children Samantha, Brenna and Sullivan; David (Shane) children Taylor and Sydney.  He is also survived by sisters Kathryn (Jack)Horner; Mary Dell (Mark) Carlson; Patricia Leonard and Jeanne (Steve) LaFrance, sister-in-law Kathleen Leonard and many nieces and nephews.  Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Edward and sister Ann.

Jerry was loyal to his Catholic faith and devoted to his family.  He loved golfing and bowling, spending time at his cabin, playing cards, and enjoying a good meal with family and friends. We are grateful to his special friends who continued to include him even as his memory loss progressed.  We are also grateful to the many wonderful health care workers who were very kind to him in his final months.

A funeral memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 21, at St. Benedict's Church with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.  A private inurnment will take place at Fort Snelling.    Memorials to Alzheimer’s Assoc, 525 So. Lake Ave., Duluth, MN 55802 and/or AFTD Organization, Radnor Station Bldg. 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA. 19087, https://www.theaftd.org/, would be appreciated.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, 218-727-3555.