Sally Leonard

Sally passed into glory and the arms of her savior Jesus Christ on September 14, 2021, at 89 years old. Born in Fussville, Wisconsin, now part of Menomonee Falls, she was baptized at St. Anthony’s as Gracella Rose. She was the first born to John and Marcella (nee Emmer) Holzem, who farmed a Good Hope Road homestead, the site of today’s Woodland Prime. Their acreage was a carve-out from a larger dairy farm created in the 1800’s by their German immigrant family.

About her nickname, Sally said, “While learning to talk, I would only say the last part of Gracella, and people understood it to be Sally.”

A proud member of the first Menomonee Falls High School class to graduate 100 students, her yearbook goal was to work in business, achieving this through bookkeeping, first in high school at a local CPA firm; progressing to Wisconsin Electric Power where she created customer invoices manually; and – after starting a family – working stints for her dad who was the Secretary of the Menomonee Mutual Insurance Company (acquired by Germantown Mutual).

Sally married Marquette University accounting student Jerry (Gerald J.) Leonard of Brookfield in 1952 and raised five children: Karen Leonard Erwin; Maureen Larsen (Paul); Debbie Johnson (Mark); Scott Leonard (Cindy) and Cheryl Keller (Dave). She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother LeRoy Holzem and grandson Jacob Johnson.

Grandma Sally has 19 beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren: Christian Erwin, Katherine Erwin; Renee (Craig) O’Leske with daughter Kayla; Naomi (Lucas) Smith with children Amber, Brent, Clara; Sara Larsen (fiancé Raymond Rickert); Brian (Julie) Larsen with children Noah, Jeremy, Ruby. Erika (Thad) Holtz with son Zebulun; Kevin Leonard (fiancée Jada Taylor); and Sean (Megan) Keller, Matt Keller, Brian Keller.

Also surviving Sally are her sister and brother-in-law Janice & Jerry Dahlke, sisters-in-law Lois Holzem & DeAnn Leonard, brother-in-law Don Leonard, and many cherished relatives and friends.

A kind loving woman, Sally suffered during her life, always sustained by prayer.

The Krause Funeral Home, Brookfield, is serving the family. The celebration of Sally’s life from birth into eternity will be October 9, 2021 at 11:00 AM, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 1755 North Calhoun Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin following a visitation at the church at 10:00 AM. Masks will be required. See www.krausefuneralhome.com for tributes and information about the online streaming option for the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations restricted to a rheumatoid arthritis cure are appreciated in Sally’s honor. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Arthritis Foundation can be reached at 414-253-4192, 10427 West Lincoln Avenue, Suite 1400, West Allis, Wisconsin 53227.