1924
Mrs.
2011
Mrs. Margaret Leona Engert
August 5, 1924 — February 12, 2011
MARGARET LEONA ENGERT
On February 12, 2011 our mother, M. Leona Engert died peacefully in her sleep and was born into eternal life.
Forever a Minnesota girl, Leona was born in St. Paul on August 5, 1924 to Barbara Agnes (O'Kane) and Thomas Howard Leonard. She was the eldest of the five infamous red-headed Leonard kids from South Saint Paul. The sensitive dreamer of the bunch, she shared every birthday of her life with her Irish twin sister, Madonna. Soon after the death of her father, Leona overcame her mother's objections to join the Navy in 1944, proudly serving as a radio operator translating Morse code. Her enlistment was cut short when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Leona's lifelong vocation as a mother began when she returned to her younger siblings and together they cared for their dying mom in their family home.
As a ticket agent for Northwest Airlines she met a handsome Air Force man, and in 1952 she married Clyde Engert. When Clyde's career opportunities in Kansas City beckoned, she began her life in Missouri as a "Minnesota transplant." Their marriage would last for 33 years.
And here is where the five of us, her children, came into her story. Born over the span of 10 years, we kept our busy with diapers and girl scouts and squabbles and baseball and laundry, lots of laundry. She managed it all while building a successful career with the Internal Revenue Service, starting as a seasonal night-shift tax examiner and rising to the rank of Branch Chief by the time she retired.
As we became adults, parents, and grandparents ourselves, she remained the heartbeat of our steadily growing family. She modeled strength, humility, humor, forgiveness, and faith in God -- traits that grew all the more evident as her body began failing her. Her greatest gifts to us are her strong sense of family, thousands of happy memories, and the secure confidence that she loved each one of us profoundly and unconditionally.
Preceding Leona in death were her parents, brother Hugh Leonard, and in January, her best friend of nearly 60 years, Shirley Bennett. She is survived by her three beloved siblings, Donna Leonard, Harold (Red) Leonard, and Sister Terese Leonard, O.S.U.
She leaves us, her children, Peggy and Gary Shults, Tom and Candy Engert, Bob and Jo Engert, Joan and Greg Gilmore, and Tricia Roberts, with the daunting task of carrying on her legacy. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren, Jennifer and Andy Wuebker, Chris and Jen Shults, Jon and Jenny Shults, Alex Engert, Nathan Engert, Nick Engert, Meredith Gilmore, Maddy Gilmore, Tess Gilmore, Cate Gilmore, Lia Gilmore, Monica Roberts, and Nina Roberts, and her five great-grandchildren.
We are especially grateful to the circle of people who helped us care for Leona as she became increasingly dependent on others, especially Dr. Ann Murphy, Cari England, Lillian Collins, and the staff at Santa Marta.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lees Summit at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 17th. Visitation at the church on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the rosary at 7:30. She will be buried in Mendota, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations be made to Sisters Servants of Mary, 800 N. 18th St, Kansas City, KS 66102.
Mom, we love you forever.
On February 12, 2011 our mother, M. Leona Engert died peacefully in her sleep and was born into eternal life.
Forever a Minnesota girl, Leona was born in St. Paul on August 5, 1924 to Barbara Agnes (O'Kane) and Thomas Howard Leonard. She was the eldest of the five infamous red-headed Leonard kids from South Saint Paul. The sensitive dreamer of the bunch, she shared every birthday of her life with her Irish twin sister, Madonna. Soon after the death of her father, Leona overcame her mother's objections to join the Navy in 1944, proudly serving as a radio operator translating Morse code. Her enlistment was cut short when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Leona's lifelong vocation as a mother began when she returned to her younger siblings and together they cared for their dying mom in their family home.
As a ticket agent for Northwest Airlines she met a handsome Air Force man, and in 1952 she married Clyde Engert. When Clyde's career opportunities in Kansas City beckoned, she began her life in Missouri as a "Minnesota transplant." Their marriage would last for 33 years.
And here is where the five of us, her children, came into her story. Born over the span of 10 years, we kept our busy with diapers and girl scouts and squabbles and baseball and laundry, lots of laundry. She managed it all while building a successful career with the Internal Revenue Service, starting as a seasonal night-shift tax examiner and rising to the rank of Branch Chief by the time she retired.
As we became adults, parents, and grandparents ourselves, she remained the heartbeat of our steadily growing family. She modeled strength, humility, humor, forgiveness, and faith in God -- traits that grew all the more evident as her body began failing her. Her greatest gifts to us are her strong sense of family, thousands of happy memories, and the secure confidence that she loved each one of us profoundly and unconditionally.
Preceding Leona in death were her parents, brother Hugh Leonard, and in January, her best friend of nearly 60 years, Shirley Bennett. She is survived by her three beloved siblings, Donna Leonard, Harold (Red) Leonard, and Sister Terese Leonard, O.S.U.
She leaves us, her children, Peggy and Gary Shults, Tom and Candy Engert, Bob and Jo Engert, Joan and Greg Gilmore, and Tricia Roberts, with the daunting task of carrying on her legacy. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren, Jennifer and Andy Wuebker, Chris and Jen Shults, Jon and Jenny Shults, Alex Engert, Nathan Engert, Nick Engert, Meredith Gilmore, Maddy Gilmore, Tess Gilmore, Cate Gilmore, Lia Gilmore, Monica Roberts, and Nina Roberts, and her five great-grandchildren.
We are especially grateful to the circle of people who helped us care for Leona as she became increasingly dependent on others, especially Dr. Ann Murphy, Cari England, Lillian Collins, and the staff at Santa Marta.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lees Summit at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 17th. Visitation at the church on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the rosary at 7:30. She will be buried in Mendota, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations be made to Sisters Servants of Mary, 800 N. 18th St, Kansas City, KS 66102.
Mom, we love you forever.
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