To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times.
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
Jan
26
2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634
Jan
27
9:15 a.m.
Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634
Funeral services provided by:
Gibbons Family Funeral Home, Ltd. - Chicago5917 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreYou may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read moreThese free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read moreSome basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more