Leonard was born on October 26, 1926, in Wausau, Wisconsin. He attended and was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Edgar, Wisconsin. He graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1944.
Leonard stayed at home on the farm during his first year out of high school. Between 1945-1947, he was a cadet teacher at Taylor County Normal School, Medford, Wisconsin. From 1947-1954, he taught grades 1-8 at five different rural schools in Wisconsin.
In 1955, he moved to Muscatine, Iowa, teaching grades 6-8 at Lutheran Children’s Home. Here he met Francis Gottschalk and they were married on August 3, 1956. They moved to Immanuel Lutheran Christian Day School in Golden, Illinois in 1958, where he taught grades 1-8.
In 1959, Leonard was called to Christ Lutheran School in West Covina, California to be the principal and a teacher. While here, he completed his Bachelor of Education from Wisconsin State University in 1962. After 10 years, he accepted a teaching position at Sunflower Middle School and later at Royal Oak Intermediate School in the Charter Oak School District. In 1998, he received his Master’s Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific College. He retired from teaching after 43 years in 1990. His retirement choices included serving as president of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the California Retired Teachers’ Association, gardening, traveling, volunteering at Christ Lutheran, private tutoring and giving music lessons.
Leonard has been a member of Christ Lutheran Church since 1959, serving as a Sunday School teacher and instructor of confirmation classes. He taught Sunday School teacher training classes, was substitute organist, president of the Brotherhood men’s group, member of the Chancel Choir since 1959, Elder on the Church Council for two terms, founding director of the Bell Choir, Bible study leader for Faith and Fellowship, attended the Thursday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast, and performed in the church musicals, “Fiddler on the Roof” and “See”.
He suffered a stroke in 2000 but still enjoyed helping with the “Charger” newsletter mailing, counting pennies for Vacation Bible School, and lifting everyone up with his smile. His wife, Francis, faithfully attended to his medical needs for 17 years.
Leonard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Francis; three daughters, Renell Pialet of Monument, Colorado, Merrill Mielke of West Covina, Yvonne Cendejas of Boise, Idaho; two sons, Merritt Mielke of Helendale, CA and Russell Mielke of Rocklin, CA; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 311 S. Citrus Street, West Covina, CA. Reception will follow immediately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christ Lutheran Church Music Ministry in his memory.
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