In Memory
JOHN O. LEONARD, 69, of Syracuse, passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, in Boca Grande, Fla. Born Sept. 11, 1946, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Thomas Spurgeon and Marie Lou (O'Connor) Leonard. He graduated in 1964 from South Side High School in Fort Wayne then received his B.S. Degree in economics and finance and his M.S.B.A. Degree in economics and finance from Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington. He served in the National Guard. John married Sharee L. (Rummel) Lynch on April 15, 2016, in Syracuse. He lived his life in Fort Wayne, Zionsville, and Syracuse areas. He was the owner /operator and CEO of American Mortgage Reality Inc. in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis for 15 years. He formerly was the president of Real American Mortgage Corporation in Fort Wayne, and worked for Lafayette Life Insurance Co., and American United Life Insurance Co. for several years. He attended Wawasee Lakeside Chapel and Wawasee Boat In church services. He is survived by wife, Sharee Leonard of Syracuse; daughters, Clara Leonard of Indianapolis and Christina Leonard of Davis, Calif.; stepdaughter, Tahnee (Kenneth Peter) Dunlap of Toronto, Calif.; and granddaughter, Malacha Leonard. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Leonard. Private family service will take place at Wawasee Lakeside Chapel with Pastor Harlan Steffen officiating. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2016, with a memorial service starting at 7 p.m. at the family home, 11325 N. Cedar Point Rd., Syracuse, Ind. Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, Ind. is in charge of all arrangements. Preferred memorials may be given to the University of Pennsylvania-Abramson Cancer Center, 3535 Market St #750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. To send condolences to the family in Mr. Leonard's memory please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fortwayne/obituary.aspx?n=john-o-leonard&pid=180240417#sthash.TJFDYQZp.dpuf
Mary A. Beaudway (Mavis)
I am not sure how many members of our class remember John, but I do. And I would hate for a member of our class not to be remembered. John lived across the street from me during some of his grade school years at Harrison Hill. His family then moved and later he returned, went to SSHS and graduated in 1964. He did attend our 50th reunion and it was good to see him again. As true to SSHS, John had a busy and productive life. I will remember John, fun times at the family's summer home on Lake Wawasee, his smile. And, of course, I will always remember the pranks he put me through. Such as, sending notes through our family mailbox. Our mailbox opened on the outside and went directly inside the house. The notes would come when both of our parents went out together for dinner. The banging on the mailbox and then a letter falling out of the mailbox, scared me to death, until I got used to it. Rest in peace, friend!!
Phillip S. Waldrop
I remember John, but as so many in the '64 group, I regret that I did not get to know him well back then. I am proud of him for his productive professional life.
Michael J. Havlin
I did not know John well but, similar to Binky's remembrance of the mail box prank, I always remember him doing some whacky things. Jim Littlejohn and I were reminiscing at the last reunion about the time John replaced the six cylinder engine in his Mom's car with a V8 and how surprised she was at how fast the vehicle was!! You are remembered, John, RIP.
James S. Littlejohn
I didn't hang around John all that much, but during the summer of 1962 we tried to get in trouble ! It was probably after he souped-up his Mom's Chevy,[ Mike Havlin's above comment] that we decided to do some modifications to my Mom's Buick. Nothing major, just by-pass the muffler, remove the air cleaner and "try" to adjust the carburetor ! John lived 2-3 bloks north of me, so racing between our houses was a quick trip. My folks never new we played junior mechanics---which might be the only time I didn't get caught ! I'm still thinking about John---all good memories.
Cheryl B. Lee (Werling)
I don't remember him that much,but I do wth all who commented --Hi to Ann Mol,Binky, Nancee etc.. Wanted to say hey ya'll
Cheryl
Kenton L. Hagerman
In the mid-and-late '60's, Indiana University-Purdue University Regional Campus at Fort Wayne was a melting pot of people returning for a variety of reasons from diverse locations. It was in this context that I first began to become acquainted with John. As the baccalaureate was, at that time, not available in Fort Wayne, circumstances found Leo and I (and another, yet-to-be-named, SSHS classmate) as roommates in Bloomington for a couple of semesters (business/finance).
Both of us being proud recipients of low draft lottery numbers, we eagerly raised our hands for the six-year U.S. Army Reserve option. We graduated in May '69, enlisted in June in the same battalion stationed on Nuttman Avenue, and following training John left for Indy and I returned to Bloomimgton.
We became separated and saw each other just in passing until just before the 50th in '14. By this time John had become highly successful and respected in his field of mortgage banking. Shortly thereafter he confided in me his illness. His family held a beautiful gathering at his home on Lake Wawasee. Too, too soon.
Kent Hagerman
Stephen Irmscher
I grew up with John on Lake Wawasee. When we were around 12 years old, we both had runabouts with 10 horse outboards on them and John, in keeping with his need for speed suggested we put both motors on one boat to give it a little extra power! It worked magnificently - tremedous pick up and speed! One drawback was that with both motors on the transom there was no room to steer :('
We remained friends through our adult lives and shared many hunting and sailing experiences together. John was a very kind and good freind.
Rest in Peace John O'Connor Leondard