Barbara G. Leonard

Barbara G. Leonard, of Sabula, IA, passed away Thursday, November 23, at her home. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3, at the Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Graveside Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Sabula. A luncheon at Manny’s Pizza in Savanna will be held after the service at the cemetery.

Barb was born on October 30, 1948, daughter of Sherman and Muriel (Nelson) Johnson. She grew up in Hanover and attended Hanover schools. Barb graduated from Hanover High School with the class of 1966. In 1972 Barb met the love of her life, Wayne Leonard, at a dance. The couple hit it off right away, and the rest was history. Barb and Wayne married on September 21, 1974. Together they raised two children and celebrated 49 years of marriage.

Barb worked most of her life at the Savanna Army Depot. She was a part of the US Army Defense Ammunition Center and School as an Engineering Draftsman, translating schematics and blueprints of ammunition carriers, into computer renderings. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing bingo, and ran Bingo Night at the Sabula VFW for many years. She was a big fan of Nascar and travelled to the Brick Yards with her husband every year. They enjoyed taking trips to places like Colorado, California, and even France and Greece.

At the center of Barb’s life was her family. She had a strong bond with her sisters, and loved spending time together, cooking traditional Norwegian food, attending the Gays Mill Apple Festival, or spontaneously dancing to music they liked. She was a proud mother and grandmother and supported her children in every way. She knew how to have fun and had a great sense of humor. She always had a witty remark or a quick comeback. Barb’s quick wit and caring heart is preserved in those she loved most.

Barbara will be dearly missed by her husband, Wayne Leonard of Sabula; two children, Michael Leonard of Mt. Carroll, IL, and Sara (Kurt) Alm of Goose Lake, IA; five grandchildren, Fancy, Noah, Abby, Jace, and Levi; and five siblings, Judy Wheeler of Lost Nation, IA, Janet (Ted) Farrey of Savanna, Karen Ranchino of Savanna, Edwin (Kathy) Johnson of Savanna, and Larry (Heidi) Johnson of Sheboygun, WI. Barbara is preceded in death by her grandparents, her parents, three nieces, and two nephews.