James "Jim" L. Leonard

James "Jim" L. Leonard, 95 of St. Paul, died on February 8, 2023, at home in St. Paul. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. Father Vince Parsons will be presiding. Interment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.   Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family.  More details will follow. 

James was born on October 25, 1927, in Scranton, Iowa to Tom and Mary (Deluhery) Leonard.  He grew up in Jefferson, Iowa and attended school at St. Anthony’s.   He entered the United States Navy on October 31, 1945, and was honorably discharged on October 11, 1947.

Jim was united in marriage to Betty Green on September 22, 1949.  The couple made their home in Omaha where they raised their 4 daughters.  He worked for Swift Packaging for 35 years.  Jim was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, serving as a Sacristan for many years.  He was very involved in the Catholic Church throughout his life.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Betty of St. Paul; 4 daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Snyder of St. Paul, Kathie and Jim Walker of Grand Island, Janice and Ron Derner of St. Paul, and Debbie and Donny Nealon of Brownsville, Oregon; grandchildren, Shawn Snyder, Kimi Archuleta, Michelle Colgrove, Reed Anderson, D.J. Nealon, Matt Walker; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces & nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Margie; 3 brothers; and 4 sisters; son-in-law, Kevin Snyder; and grandson, Max Walker.

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