Anne Rita Leenknecht

Anne Rita Leenknecht passed away March 15, shortly after celebrating her 90th birthday. Born February 20, 1932 in San Jose, CA, Anne was the second youngest of six siblings including sisters; Helene, Claire, Jean, Joan and brother Frank. She graduated from Holy Names College (all women at the time) with a Bachelor’s Degree. During a dance social with Saint Mary’s College (all men at the time) she met her future husband Henry (Hank) Leenknecht and they were married June 26, 1954, and celebrated 54 years of marriage.

Together they had five children Mary Jo Miller (Merlin), Tom (Connie), Michael (Donna), Robert (Wendy) and Patrick (Tracy). Seven grandchildren loved her as well – Jason Miller (Megan), Greg Miller , Kevin Miller (Reiko) , Anna Steenberg (Jason), Cara Miller, Christopher Leenknecht (Hannah), and Aaron Leenknecht (Isabela) along with five great grandchildren – Aryana, Elena, Sophia, Donsen and Carson.

Anne worked for the State of Oregon for many years with Children Services and during that time saw the need for foster parents. Through her passion to help others the family cared for over 200 foster children on a short-term basis and both Anne and Henry were named Foster Parent of the Year multiple times.

In 1984, Anne was named Mother of the Year for state of Oregon. She also was instrumental in starting the Ombudsman Program in Josephine County, was actively involved at St. Anne Catholic Church and volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Senior Meals Program along with many other organizations as well as finding time to write a parenting column for the Daily Courier. More recently she was the recipient of the Sharon Marchant Lifetime Achievement Award. Her strength, courage and faith were interwoven in all she did. Her love for people came out in all she did. Anne also loved to travel including the educational trips with the Elder Hostel Program and numerous cruises.

Anne was happy to be a homemaker as she raised her 5 children and loved to cook and can fruit and vegetables from the garden. She always gave of herself by caring for others with her love, prayer, homemade soups and whatever she could provide to take care of the needs. Many people called her “St. Anne” because of the blessing she provided in their lives.

In her later years she loved to enjoy a daily sucker (or more like a dozen!) and would say “a sucker a day keeps the doctor away”. She kept her awesome sense of humor to the very end. Enjoy a sucker today and think of Anne.

We would like to thank the loving and caring people at Country Side The Lodge and Asante Hospice who cared for mom during her final days and years.

She was preceded in death by Henry and son Robert. At her request no public services are planned with final resting place at Eagle Point National Cemetery with her love Henry.

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”