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Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago

5917 West Irving Park Rd.

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John Leonard Obituary

Leonard, John M. John M. Leonard, Lieutenant-EMT, proud member of Truck 20 Chicago Fire Department. Devoted father of Jason "Jocko" (Hristina) and John "Juner" (Sara); adoring grandfather of Charles and Christian; loving partner of Elsbeth Miller (retired CFD); former husband of Dianne; true father-figure to Morgan Miller; beloved brother of Janet M. Ortiz, Thomas E. (Kathy), Patricia J. (Bruce) Croix, Daniel J. (Joie), Kathryn M. (Kenneth) Ippolito and Lori A. (Nicholas) Caruso; loving nephew, cousin, uncle, coach, mentor and a friend to many. Funeral Tuesday 9:15 a.m. from Gibbons Family Funeral Home, 5917 W. Irving Park Rd. ( 1/2 block East of Austin) to St. Pascal Church. Mass 10:00 a.m. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation Monday 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina or Chicago Fire Department Gold Badge Society. For info 773-777-3944 or www.gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Jan. 25, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for John Leonard

Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times.

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John M.Dewan

June 28, 2025

JOHN, I miss having coffee with you at Madison and Racine. You were a great Man. One, I think of You often. God bless. RIP.

Victor Gryniewicz

July 12, 2015

To the Leonard Family, we were so sorry to hear about John's passing in the St. Patrick alumni publication. John and the entire family were great neighbors on Moody Street. John accomplished a lot in his lifetime. Our prayers go out to him and his family.
--Vic and Pam

Mercedes & Daryl Nowinski

March 11, 2015

Have been thinking a lot of John and how he truly is being missed by friends and co-workers.
Peace, Merce and Daryl

January 28, 2015

My condolences to all John's family. I grew with John and went grammar with him. Great guy and pleasant memories!!!

Teresa O'Neill (Mattucci)

January 28, 2015

To all the Leonards on Moody...My sincerest condolences to your family on this huge loss. I remember John as being funny, happy, generous and kind. May you find comfort in your memories, knowing that you all played an important part in his becoming a man who lived a most meaningful life full of the love and respect of so many others.God bless you all, rest in peace, John.

January 28, 2015

I had the honor of working with John at Merrimac Park. He had a big heart and always willing to help his community. My prayers are with his family at this time.

Frank Clark

January 27, 2015

To the Leonard family - i am sincerely sorry for your loss. i hope and pray your memories help you through this tragedy. they are helping me. John was a happy, fun filled and important part of my life. Rest in Peace my friend.

Lee & Mary Alvarado

January 27, 2015

We are so very sorry to hear of John's passing, please accept our sincere sympathy.

January 27, 2015

We would like to add our sincerest sympathies to the family of John Leonard. We were privileged to get to know him through St. Pascal's and Merrimac Park. He was constantly helping the kids as a coach on many sports team and always had a smile on his face. He will be missed and never forgotten.
Ron & Mary Butera and family

John Waters

January 27, 2015

John will be missed .by the CFDand all who worked with him .I was glad to know John back in 1980 when he came to 71st & Parnel He was a great kid . HE will suffer no more . John is in GOD"s hand now.His friend John "muddy" Waters

January 27, 2015

Ellsbeth, Very sorry for your loss......
Tedd Korbos, ret. 4 th, Battalion Chief

Carl Ostrowski

January 26, 2015

Rest in peace & may God bless you Johnny!thank you for all the knowledge you shared through out the years with your fellow CFD family!

Scott Birmingham

January 26, 2015

335 RIP John you were a great man

Emilie Yount

January 26, 2015

My thoughts are with Jocko, Juner and the entire Leonard family at this time. I have wonderful memories of John at Merrimac, especially for St. Pascal and Chicago Park District sports - many years of floor hockey. A great ref, coach and dad, he will be missed by many.

January 26, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Leonard Family.
**Your seccond cousin**
Norm & Betsy (Leonard) Rhein-Brandon, Florida

Julianne Pierce Joyce

January 26, 2015

Our sincere condolences and sympathy to Juner and family on the loss of your dad, grandpa, brother, partner and friend.

Pat & Julie Joyce and family

January 26, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Leonard Family. ** John's second counsin ** Norm & Betsy (Leonard) Rhein

January 25, 2015

Juner, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dean and Julie Snyder

Andy & Ellen (Leonard) Betz

January 25, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as you grieve the loss of John.

Kathie Pasowicz-Babiarz (Spaz)

January 25, 2015

Sorry to hear about John. We were classmates at St. Pascal class of 1971. Thankyou for your service to our city as a fire fighter.

Larry Bergfalk

January 25, 2015

Our deepest condolences for the loss to the Leonard family.
John was truly a special person whom I have known for over fifty years. A friend, father, mentor, coach, confidant, co-worker, Fireman, leader, deacon, Shamrock, humble, volunteer - an exemplary individual who did not include "can't" in his vocabulary and would never say "no" to anyone or cause.
A man of conviction who never forgot where he came from or who he was; first responder both in the public and private sectors - always available, giving, greeting you with that infectious smile and laugh. A tough exterior shell but a larger than life heart filled with compassion. A soul so unique we should all emulate its spirituality.
In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara in the Celtic world was the "soul friend".
John, your anam cara awoken the eternal. In this soul-space, there is no distance.
Now that you have your wings, continue to soar, rest in peace, get re-acquainted with all who passed before you, light up that stogie, throw one back, continue to answer the alarms, while watching over us.
Till we meet again - John, Thank You!
Larry Bergfalk
The Bergfalk Family

Fred Cnota

January 25, 2015

My deepest condolences to all the family. We will all miss him...

January 25, 2015

May the perpetual light of Jesus Christ our Savior, shine his perpetual light on his soul. Amen

Therese Beavers

January 24, 2015

Praying for John and the Leonard family. Thinking of you.

Betsy Martin Dooley

January 24, 2015

I haven't seen John for many, many years. Since our family picnics at Schiller Woods. I remember him as a really nice fun guy. Rest in Peace cousin. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. Prayers for his family.

DEBRA KOZLOWSKI

January 24, 2015

Rest in Peace John, hope you're having a cocktail up there with my Dad.

Dennis Liesz

January 24, 2015

I will miss having coffee together on Sunday morning after the Wisconsin golf outings, Even after "enjoying" ourselves all day Saturday, you and I were always the first ones up,

Showing 1 - 27 of 27 results

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Memorial Events
for John Leonard

Jan

26

Visitation

2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago

5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634

Jan

27

Funeral

9:15 a.m.

Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago

5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634

Jan

27

Funeral Mass

10:00 a.m.

St. Pascal Church

IL

Funeral services provided by:

Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago

5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634

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