Obit: Leonard, John Peter (1916 - 1972)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Leonard, Ives, Rehm, Odem

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 8/17/1972

Leonard, John Peter (13 November 1916 - 12 August 1972)

Funeral services for John Peter Leonard, 55, who came to Clark County in 1963 to establish the Wedges Creek Research farm, were held Monday, August 14, from the Hallowell and James Funeral Home at La Grange, Ill. Burial was made in an Elmhurst, Ill., cemetery. The Georgas Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements here. Mr. Leonard died August 12, at his home, Red Pines, on Rt. 1 Willard.

John P. Leonard, the son of George and Clara Leonard, was born November 13, 1916, at Maywood, Ill., and received his education at St. Procopius academy, Lisle, Ill. He worked for many years as a milk distributor in Sycamore, Ill., and lived in Genoa, Ill.

He came to Neillsville in July of 1963 to establish the Wedges Creek research farm and remained there until March of 1966, when the Leonard’s established Red Pines, Inc, where they raised laboratory guinea pigs. Mr. Leonard, who was a veteran of World War II, became ill in May of this year. Memorials are to go to the Marshfield Clinic Research foundation.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, the former Margaret Ives, whom he married July 18, 1964, in Barrington, Ill.; and four children: John Taylor Leonard of Aurora, Ill., Mrs. Garry (Ann) Rehm of Athens, Miss Susan Jane Leonard of Paris, France, and Mrs. Jimmy (Margaret) Odem of Genoa, Ill; and one grandchild. He is also survived by six sisters and two brothers.