Obit: Leason, Annie (1867 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Leason, Greisch, Cornwell, Bennett, Reuter, Peter, Longenecker, Perkins, Flynn, Schmedel, Bullard, Brown, Parry, Svirnoff, Kurth, Monk, Reisner

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 11 March 1943

Leason, Annie (19 April 1867 - 6 March 1943)

Mrs. W. A. Leason died at her home at 143 North Hewett Street at nine a.m. March 6, 1943, after a long illness, following a stroke of paralysis which she suffered Dec. 22, 1942.

Mrs. Leason was born April 19, 1867, at Adell, Sheboygan County, Wis., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Greisch. Her given name was Annie. Reared on a farm, she attended the school in the home district and public school in Chicago.

On the third day of July, 1890, she was married to William A. Leason in Sheboygan County. They were the parents of three children, William Spencer Leason, who died in 1892, at the age of eight months; Jesse A. Leason, St. Paul, and Mrs. M. E. Bennett, Neillsville, Wis.

They moved from Plymouth, Wis., to 1893, to a farm west of Neillsville, where they lived until 1900, when they moved to their present home in this city.

She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a Carmi Chapel No. 60, O. E. S. of this city. She also was a member of the old West Side Society, one of the first social groups in this community, organized about forty-five years ago by ten women who resided on farms west of the river. Of this number but one, Mrs. Kate Cornwell, at present living with Mrs. O. E. Counsell of this city, survives. These women became steadfast friends, keeping in close touch with one another, through correspondence or personal contacts, even after they no longer functioned as an organization, until, one by one, they passed away. She also formed many other close friendships throughout the community.

Mrs. Leason was all that could be desired of a woman as a homemaker, yet she found some time for social and civic activities. She maintained a keen interest in local politics and in the public school system of this city, rarely missing an annual school meeting. It was through her influence that many of the finer were elected to public office.

In connection with Mrs. Leason’s home life, it may be added that no matter what her outside activities were, she always managed to be at home when her husband came from his office and when the children returned from school. The son, Jess, paid his mother a beautiful tribute Tuesday when he stated that upon his arrival at home Saturday evening, he found her absent for the first time within his memory.

To her family and to the community as a whole, Mrs. Leason leaves a legacy of wisdom, kindliness and precious memories.

Surviving are her husband and children, two grandchildren: Keith Bennett, Neillsville, now serving in the U. S. Armed forces, and Patricia Anne Leason, of Buffalo, N. Y; and a sister, Mrs. J. P. Reuter, of North Hollywood, Calif. Four brothers: John, Peter, Joseph and Mathias Greisch, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 8, at the Masonic Temple, the Eastern Star Chapter and the Rev. G. W. Longenecker being in charge.

Mrs. M. N. Perkins and Mrs. A. F. Flynn sang two hymns, "Saved by Grace" and ‘When I get to the End of the Way." R. E. Schmedel, Fred Bullard, Frank Brown, David Parry, I. E. Svirnoff and Louis Kurth acted as pallbearers. Interment was made in the Neillsville Cemetery.

In attendance at the rites from distant places were: Jess A. Leason, St. Paul, Atty. and Mrs. Robert Monk, Wausau, and Mr. and Mrs. Will Reisner, Chili.