Visitation for Michael Leonard will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Inurnment is at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg.
Michael W. Leonard passed away Sunday May 11, 2025 in his home near Spencer. Mike, son of John and Bernette (Donahue) Leonard, was born February 11, 1949 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He attended the Emmetsburg Catholic School graduating in 1968. Soon after graduation, Mike moved to the Spencer area raising a family and working for the rest of his life.
Over the years Mike was employed at various jobs. He worked for many years at Style Craft in Milford and recently retired from the Upper Des Moines Outreach program where he did maintenance and custodial work. Mike loved his work at school where he was well-known to joke around with the teachers and students.
Mike will be remembered as a loving father of five, brother and loyal friend who loved to tease and instigate some fun. There was always room at Mike’s house for a friend to stop by. Often you could find him restoring classic cars or working on an engine; he was a talented mechanic. If he wasn’t at home, he was out camping with his siblings and extended family where he was the first to start a water balloon fight amongst the kids or fix you a burger.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bernette; sisters, Shirley Petersen and Jeanette Cooke; brother, Tom Leonard; and brothers-in-law Ken Cooke and Rick Rouse.
He is survived by his children, Troy (Lesa) Leonard of Anchorage, Alaska, Chad (Carrie) Leonard of Tallahassee, Florida, Jared (Amber) Leonard of Palmer, Alaska, Brad Leonard of Redfield, Iowa, and Kim (Bret) Maxwell of Adel, Iowa; special friend Jennifer Sanderson of Milford, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Pat (Joanne) Leonard of Colorado and Gary (Sandy) Leonard of Emmetsburg, Iowa; sisters, Deb Rouse of Emmetsburg, Iowa and Annette (Rich) Gilman of Golden, Colorado; brother-in-law, Delbert Petersen of Estherville, Iowa; sister-in-law, Susan Leonard of Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
