James John Leonard

James John (“Jim”) Leonard, age 95, died peacefully April 21, 2021 in hospice with family holding his hand.  Jim was born April 27, 1925 in Lake City MN and graduated from the Mary E. McCahill Institute.  After serving in WWII as cadet in the US Navy Air Corps, Jim attended the Midwestern Airline School in Kansas City MO and was subsequently hired by Trans World Airlines.  His career with TWA spanned over forty years, starting as a Reservations Agent at TWA’s reservations office in Kansas City and ending as Vice President Sales and Service in Chicago IL.  Jim and his wife, Pat, met at TWA, were married 64 years, and raised four daughters.  Jim and Pat enjoyed a long and happy retirement in Albuquerque NM and Scottsdale AZ, filled with wonderful memories of visits, activities, and events with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A devout Catholic, Jim was a solid, hardworking, family man with a great sense of humor.  Although his career took him to many US cities and abroad, his favorite place was “home” with his wife and family.

He is survived by his daughters, Patricia, Carol(h. Rick), Mary Jo(h. Stan) and Janet(h. Dan), 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, his brother Eugene Francis “Gene” Leonard and Gene’s wife Elaine Ignatowicz Leonard, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, TWA coworkers, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Francis Patricia “Pat” Leonard (Shea); his parents, James Berchmann “Bert” Leonard and Dorothy Francis Leonard (Koch); and his sister, Mary Therese Dahl (Leonard)and Mary’s husband Charles Collins Dahl.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City, MN. on June 18, 2021 at 11am with Father Matt Fasnacht officiating.  Gathering to follow as allowed by pandemic restrictions. Condolences can be sent to Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel, P.O. Box 90, Lake City, MN. 55041, or entered online at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a favorite charity of Jim and Pat’s, the National Council of the US, Society of St Vincent de Paul, 66 Progress Way, Maryland Heights MO 63043-3706, (314)575-3993, or donate online at svdpusa.org