August 17, 1931 – August 11, 2022
Dan was born in the community of Wood, Franklin County, North Carolina to Sant Leonard and Dollie Gupton Leonard. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Pflugerville Care Center, in Pflugerville, TX where he had been a resident for 4 years.
Dan was the youngest of twelve children, and was raised on a tobacco farm. He attended the local school, helped work on the farm and developed a love for baseball. He often said he never walked anywhere, but ran, many times it was barefoot through the red dirt. He graduated from Gold Sands High School in 1950. After graduating he worked for the railroad. He knew he was soon to be drafted by the Army, but instead, chose to volunteer in the U.S. Air Force, he passed the test, and served 8 years. It was while stationed at Grissom Air Force Base (Peru, Indiana), that he met & married Myrna Steinsberger, to whom he was married to for 65 years. After getting out of the Air Force, he went to work for GM in Marion Indiana’s Fisher Body factory until 1986, when he retired and the family moved to the Austin, Texas area.
Dan played minor league baseball for many years. At one point, he even had the opportunity to try out for the New York Giants. He declined, not wanting to travel and be away from family. He continued to play, even when a collision in the outfield caused him to lose his front teeth. And he never stopped being a fan of the game, even in the last few weeks, family or staff at the home would help him find “the game” on TV.
In retirement he continued his hobbies of gardening and raising rabbits, and sharing his knowledge about them with others, mentoring those who wanted to get started. He never tired of talking about rabbits, and many a time when friends or family would visit, he would get his best rabbit out and have it in show position, and point out what made it a good rabbit. He was a respected member of the Central Texas Rabbit Club, & received their lifetime achievement award. To say he was an enthusiastic gardener, is an understatement. Even after his wife Myrna, would can over 800 quarts a year of its produce, there would be so much left over, that he would invite friends and family to come get all they wanted. His gardening skills were so respected that he was featured by Texas Gardener magazine for his red potatoes. Because of the skills and passion he had for his hobbies, he was known locally as Dan the Rabbit Man, and the Potato Man.
In his final years, after suffering a stroke, he became a resident of the Pflugerville Care facility. He quickly became a favorite among the staff and residents. He would have family bring bags of candy, for candy jars in his room to “make sure the staff would take good care of me”, he would say. And they did take great care of him and he enjoyed having them come in his room to get candy, and have a chat. Always wanting to know where they were raised up, how their family was, & “get a second piece of candy”. There he became known as the Dan the Candy Man.
Dan is survived by:
Daughter: Yvonne Leonard (Manor, TX), Grandchild: Roxanna; Great-grandchildren: Saleen & Joseph
Son: Mike Warren & wife Maryellen (Charlotte, NC), Grandchildren 8, Great-grandchildren 22, great-great 4;
Son: Dan V. Leonard & wife Audrey (Dayton, OH),Grandchildren: Zac, Clark, Great grandchildren: Cienna & Gabe;
Daughter: Melinda Leonard, Manor, TX;
Son: Jason Leonard (Hutto, TX), Grandchildren: Jacob & Pierce;
Daughter: Lorilee Clawson & husband Rex, Granger, TX.
Along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Dan was predeceased by his wife Myrna Leonard; His brothers: Vernon Leonard, Garnold Leonard, Cooper Leonard, Russell Leonard, Jewel Leonard, Plummer Leonard, and Alfred Leonard; His sisters; Ruby Leonard McDonald, Bettie Leonard Thompson, Mary Joe Leonard, and Rachel Leonard Morgan.
Dan’s sure hope for the future was:
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out-John 5:28, 29
Funeral service will be conducted via ZOOM
Date & Time: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2022
Zoom ID: 573 399 5885
Zoom Password: rabbits (all lower case)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Leonard family.
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