with his loving wife, Karen, by his side after a difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia. John
was born in Beech Grove, Indiana in 1947 to Ralph Leon Leonard, Sr., and Lily Rhoda Leonard.
Those who knew John most closely knew him for his quick wit. He was a great storyteller, always had a funny joke to share, and could reel off one-liners that would make everyone laugh.
John grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana with his parents and two brothers, Ralph and David.
Upon graduation from high school, John attended Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute,
Indiana where he was an active member of the football team and a member of the Alpha Tau
Omega fraternity. He earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, and continued
to remain a part of his alma mater as an alumni class agent. John furthered his education by
earning a Master of Business Administration from Berry College, in Rome, Georgia.
John’s first employer was General Electric where he spent the first year in Syracuse, New York
and subsequent years in Rome, Georgia. John’s second employer was Stran Steel in
Lagrange, Georgia where he worked for two years and then transitioned to Brown Boveri
Turbo Machinery in St. Cloud, Minnesota. His next transition took him to Morgan Engineering in
Alliance, Ohio. With a desire to return to the south, John accepted a position with Lithonia
Lighting in Atlanta, Georgia. John’s final full time employer was IBM, after which he served as a
software consultant.
John loved playing sports including football, golf, and rugby through high school, college, and
into his adult life. He enjoyed attending Atlanta Braves and Falcons games with his wife, Karen.
John and Karen shared a sense of adventure and traveled extensively in the United States and
abroad including; Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Yellowstone National Park, the Boundary
Waters, Singapore, Western Australia, Japan, Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia, and the
Bahamas.
John was preceded in death by his parents Ralph Leon Leonard, Sr., and Lily Rhoda Leonard;
and his brother Ralph Leon Leonard, Jr.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 23 years, Karen Aihoon Leonard; his brother David James
Leonard (Sue Ann Leonard); his son John Edward Leonard, Jr., (Elisabeth Ann Leonard),
daughter Stephanie Marie Leonard-Snead (Hunter Scott Snead), and daughter Theresa Anne
Perduk; his grandchildren John Edward Leonard, III, Nicholas Anthony Leonard, Madeline Anne
Witte, Chet Matthew Witte, Michael Patrick Leonard, and Lauren Alexis Perduk.
A service will be held at H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel at 10:00 am ET on September
19th, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you send donations to Food for the Poor.
https://foodforthepoor.org
