SSDI Ancestry.com
JUSTIN LEAHY
SSN 391-12-1140 Residence: 54868 Rice Lake, Barron, WI
Born 28 Feb 1918 Last Benefit: 54868 Rice Lake, Barron, WI
Died Oct 1983 Issued: WI (Before 1951)
File from Bill Daley (from JGO'Brien) received 21 MAY 2000 gives DOB as27 FEB. DOB corrected by Tom Leahy, 25 MAY 2001.Graduated Marquette University (WI) School of Law, 9 NOV 1947.
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The following obits, etc., received from Tom Leahy, 25 MAR 2001.From the Rice Lake Chronotype, November 3, 1983
Dr. Justin Robert Leahy, 65, of 43 Lakeshore Terrace, Rice Lake, diedSunday at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake. Funeral services wereheld this Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dobie andburial was made in the church cemetery.
Mr. Leahy was born Feb. 28, 1918 at Milwaukee and married the formerBette Mullaney on June 21, 1945 at Park Falls. After graduation from St.Thomas College in St. Paul, he attended the University of Chicago, andlater Marquette University in Milwaukee where he received his doctorateof jurisprudence. He practiced law at Park Falls where he also served ascity attorney and veteran's service officer for Price County for a numberof years. He then practiced law in the Twin Cities area until 1967, whenhe moved to Bloomer and taught high school for several years prior tomoving to Rice Lake. He served as a professor of psychology at UWCenter-Barron County in Rice Lake until retiring in 1978 because ofhealth problems.
In addition to being a United States Navy veteran of World War II he wasa member of the Rice Lake Rotary Club, Lions Club, Elk's Lodge, WisconsinBar Assn., various education associations, Barron County CampusFoundation and the Heritage Club of Lakeview Medical Center in RiceLake. In 1972 he was voted one of the Outstanding Educators in theUnited States and in 1973 he was named Teacher of the Year by thestudents at UW Center-Barron County.
He is survived by his wife Bette, one daughter, Jeanie Foshay of Scandia,Minn; three sons, Thomas of Stillwater, Patrick of Cornell, and Michaelof Madison; 10 grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.
(The identical obituary appeared in the Park Falls Herald on the sameday.)
* * *
from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 2, 1983
Funeral services for Justin R. Leahy, 65, a former St. Paul lawyer andUniversity of Wisconsin-Barron County professor who died Sunday in RiceLake, Wis., will be at 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes CatholicChurch in Dobie, Wis.
Born in Milwaukee, he graduated from the College of St. Thomas and thenearned his law degree at Marquette University following Navy service inWorld War II.
He specialized in title insurance in St. Paul from 1957 - 66 and taughtbriefly in Bloomer, Wis., before joining the UW-Barron County Campusfaculty as a psychology professor. He retired in the mid 1970s.
He is survived by his wife Bette, three sons, Patrick of Cornell, Wis.,Michael of Madison, Wis., Thomas of Stillwater, a daughter Jeanie Foshayof Scandia, and 13 grandchildren. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
* * *
From the University of Wisconsin Center System "CENTERSCOPE," November14, 1983
Justin R. Leahy, retired professor of English and Psychology at theUniversity of Wisconsin Center/Barron County, died on Sunday, October 30.
Professor Leahy joined the ranks of college teaching later in hisprofessional life after successfully practicing law and teaching highschool English.
Born in Milwaukee, Leahy received his B.A. from the College of St. Thomasin 1941 and his J.D. from Marquette University in 1947. He worked forten years in Park Falls in the general practice of law and served as CityAttorney and Price County Veteran's Services Officer. In 1957, he movedto White Bear Lake, Minnesota and specialized in title insurance andmortgage banking law.
Leahy started his career in education at Bloomer High School where he wasan English instructor for three years before joining the Barron CountyCampus in 1969.
Voted "Teacher of the Year" in the early 1970's, the Barron studentsthought of Dr. Leahy as a caring person and even those who had not takenhis courses often sought his counsel.
After his retirement, Professor Leahy continued to aid students throughthe donation of his personal library, consisting of 554 books and A-Vmaterials, to the campus library. In 1983 he and his wife Bette, also acampus employee, set up a special fund to be awarded to needy students ona non-academic basis.
He is survived by his wife, Bette, and four children.
* * *
this letter to the editor written by Jim Patraw, a friend and colleague,appeared in the November 10, 1983 Rice Lake Chronotype.
"Just in Tribute"
Last Wednesday was a day that typified the season of the year - the skywas leaden and overcast, threatening at any moment to open up and fillthe rain gauges. The landscape below it was fast taking on the drabcolors of a dying harvest season. All things considered, November 2,1983 spoke of post-summer let-down and pre-winter doldrums.
But there was one thing strangely out of place on last Wednesday - a softwarm breeze that blew in from the southwest. For those who have visitedIreland, it made the day feel almost like a soft summer Irish day … andit played a song in the treetop branches of the giant pines that stand inOur Lady of Lourdes Cemetery at Dobie … played a song for and on a circleof people standing around a flag-draped coffin that held the mortal shellof a good Irish man who had gone home.
It was no accident that the warm southwest wind was blowing on lastclouded-over Wednesday … that good Irish man was a warm wind that wouldmake the most miserable weather seem bearable - even enjoyable. Nomatter how black and bleak was the overcast or the forecast, the sun wasalways out when Justin Robert Leahy was sitting in your corner of theworld.
To his many friends, he was "Doc," and his students at the Barron CountyCampus called him that with a mixture of respect and affection. Usingthe full word never seemed to set too well with him. I made the mistakeonce early on by addressing him as "Doctor," and I was immediatelyinformed by him that he had no license to practice medicine and that"Doc" or "Bob" would do just fine.
And "Doc" did just fine … and he practiced medicine of a kind and with afinesse and skill that inspires lesser men to formulate theories andwrite doctoral dissertations on the methods that just came to himnaturally. But knowing these ivory-tower inhabitants as I do, it willtake them thirty thousand words, 423 diagrams and six reams ofstatistical analyses to attempt to analyze his five-word 100 percenteffective prescription: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
He was an extraordinary person who genuinely felt that everyone wasextraordinary. Whether it was the psychology class in Ritzinger Hall,Room 129 in the administration building, over a cup of coffee in thestudent center, a get-together at Clam Lake, or just a chance meetinganywhere, the light shined bright and the breeze was soft and warm when"Doc" was there … and he was always there for those truly down and out ontheir luck who needed a helping hand and to talk to who would listen. Hewould talk with you, not down at you, suggest alternatives rather thandeliver dogmas, and when the encounter was over, you were left with thegood feeling that you played the major role in solving your own problems- which was a big part of the 100 percent effective prescription.
His last few years of earthly tenure were at times very trying for himbecause of the limitations put on his spirit by a mortal shell that wassuffering mechanical breakdown, but there was plenty of steel beneath hisvelvet and he stayed as long as he could until on the day before this AllHallow's Eve, when the Maker of All decided that it was time for "Doc"Leahy to come home.
The mortal shell will be reduced to the atoms of its chemistry, thewooden box that holds it will go the same route, and the slab of stonemarking the geographic coordinates of the first two will be the last torealize their same fate, but "Doc" Leahy still lives on in those of uswho were fortunate enough to have known and loved him … and I'm sure thathe would suggest that we keep the warm breeze blowing soft, the light onand the door open … passing out that 100 percent effective prescription.
* * *
Eulogy delivered at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on November 2, 1983 by Dr.Wayne W. Arntson, a friend and colleague
In the fall of 1973 a young black man from Africa, a student at theBarron County Campus, was being overwhelmed by problems: He was in astrange land, the language was different, his funds were running low, andhe was having difficulties with the immigration authorities. It was atthis moment that Bob Leahy entered the young man's life.
No one knows exactly what happened. It is known that Bob drove the youngman to Milwaukee for a visit with immigration officials. And it is knownthat the two spent considerable time together. And it is known that theproblems seemed to disappear. It is a fact that two years later theyoungster completed his work at the Barron County Campus and was awardedan associate degree. Bob Leahy once again had quietly solved a student'sproblem.
That incident was typical of Bob. He was exceptionally skilled atovercoming problems - and he had plenty of his own to solve.
Consider his own health: Bob joined the Navy following Pearl Harbor butcontracted rheumatic fever and was discharged in 1943. By 1945 he hadrecovered enough to marry and attend law school at Marquette University.In 1947 Bob was graduated from Marquette and began his practice whichcontinued into the 60's until heart problems caused him to slow down.Again he bounced back and went to work teaching high school English in1967 and finally came to our campus in 1968.
We're all familiar with Bob's breathing problems that developed in hislast few years. They eventually became so severe that the only way hecould move from one building to another was to use his little electriccart. He didn't like it and he had no words of endearment for that cart;I recall one incident in which the cart was acting up - I was surprisedto discover from Bob's comments that the cart had a dog for a mother. Hehated that cart! But, since it was the only way he could meet hisstudents, he used it. He was a man who solved problems.
Looking back through old school papers, Twigs, it is a surprise toremember the great turmoil in the late 60's and early 70's: Drugs wererampant; Viet Nam debates continued hot and heavy. In the midst of allthe turmoil were many veterans on campus who had special problems oftheir own. Bob was in the right place. He could help.
Bob had a special knack for spotting troubled souls and he could talk toanyone on practically any topic. He had such a variety of interests.The first time I met Bob I discovered a lawyer, teaching high schoolEnglish, and taking a physics course on our campus. He could speakintelligently on many subjects.
But what Bob did mostly was listen and that's what his students needed.Oh, he would offer counsel and advice when asked, but he didn't imposehis comments on anyone. Furthermore, it was not at all unusual for himto slip some cash to a downtrodden student. And he always had time -afternoon, evening, 2:00 A.M. - You got a problem? Call "Doc"! He wasalways there - as you might expect from a man who once termed our campus"the home of beautiful people."
Look at some of the campus projects in which Bob was a major influence:
The first Earth Day. Remember?
The Future 101 class. Highly successful the first few years.
The Clam Lake excursions. Students and faculty brought together ina new setting.
Clam Lake was Bob Leahy.
Major contributions by the Leahys to the College Foundation,including a recent fund
to be used by students with "special problems."
Over 450 books donated to the library.The one project of which Bob was the proudest? His family. His wife,the perfect partner, and his children whom he rightly called "mature,compassionate, and independent."
At a time like this it is fitting that we recall Bob's accomplishments,but perhaps the best tribute we can give him is to carry on hisunfinished work. Having learned from his example, let us try to makethis a better world.
Bob wrote of his students, "I have found that my understanding of them isessential to their success and enjoyment." That applies to everybody,every day.
Bob wrote of his own life, "It'll never make the best seller list eventhough it is loaded with prurient passages, has the greatest plot, andhas the best cast of characters ever assembled in a story, but my life inthe teaching profession is the most absorbing tale I hope ever toencounter."
Well done, thou good and trusted servant.
Hail! and farewell.
==================================
Info. on Bette Leahy from daughter Jeanie, received OCT 1998.
From Jeanie Foshay, 3 OCT 2002:
Mom was born in Superior 11-4-1920. Grandpa worked for the railroad andwas transferred to Spooner . They moved to Spooner, WI before Mom was 11/2. She went thru school and graduated from Spooner High School formthere she moved back to Superior and went to Superior State TeachersCollege and graduated.I loved Aunt Bette's laugh. It's one of my earliest memories of her.When Bob and Bette lived out at White Bear Lake, we would stop and seethem every summer. I remember her saying once that she was "...gettingout of the way," so we could go swimming, as we came through the door.I'm sure my mother was appalled, but Bette thought it was funny that mybrother Kevin and I had already pulled off shirts and shoes (we hadtrunks on already) before we even got to the door. After a long day ofswimming in the lake, you could always count on Bette to have "Bug" juicewaiting (kool ade mixed with frozen lemonade concentrate--the littlepieces of pulp looked like gnat's sitting in the kool ade.
I think I really got to know Bette after my mom died. I wrote her ashort note thanking her for her kind words of comfort. And she wroteback almost immediately. And we kept up the correspondence pretty muchuntil Bette went into the nursing home. She talked a lot about hergrandkids, of whom she was immensely proud; she shared her hopes andfears for each of them. If I'd been smart, I would have started buggingher for information on the family. She made several cryptic commentsabout the Sheboygan (county) gang, but I didn't know enough to followup. I've missed her letters these past few years.---RML
___________________________
Frances Elizabeth "Bette" (Mullaney) Leahy
Frances "Bette" Leahy, 79, of Rice Lake died Feb. 19 at the LakeviewMedical Center.
Mrs. Leahy was born to Hy and Esther (Lindquist) Mullaney on Nov. 4,1920 at Superior. She grew up and attended school in Spooner and thenattended Superior State Teachers College in Superior. After graduation,Mrs. Leahy taught English and French as a student teacher at the highschool in Glidden. On June 21, 1945 she married Justin Leahy, and theymoved to Milwaukee so he could earn a doctorate at Marquette University.They moved to Park Falls in 1948 and were both active in community life,and in 1957 they moved to the St. Paul area. Mrs. Leahy worked at St.Joseph’s Hospital until they moved to Rice Lake in 1972, where she workedas an assistant librarian at the UW-Barron County until retiring in 1984.She then became active in the Lakeview Medical Center Auxiliary and hadserved for 3 years as its president.
She is survived by a daughter, Jeanie Foshay of Chisago City, Minn.;three sons, Thomas of Woodbury, Minn., Patrick of Cameron and Michael ofCharlotte, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Leahy’s husband, Justin "Doc" Leahy, died in 1983.
--from the Rice Lake Chronotype
Rice Lake On-line [courtesy of Jody (Leahy) Filipi].
* * *
Frances Elizabeth "Bette'', age 79 of Rice Lake, WI formerly of theSt. Paul, Ramsey County, MN area died Saturday, February 19, 2000 at theLakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake. She is survived by 4 children; 10grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband,Justin "Bob'' Leahy in 1983. Mass of Christian Burial will be held10:30AM Thursday, February 24, 2000 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church inRice Lake. Fr. Kevin Gordon officiating, with interment in Our Lady ofLourdes Cemetery at Dobi, WI. Friends may call from 4-8PM Wednesday atAppleyard's Home for Funerals and 10-10:30AM Thursday at the church.
--from The St Paul Pioneer Press, Feb 22,2000.
[Courtesy of Michele Schneider].
___________________________
50. James Joseph Leahy , MD Dr.
Personal knowledge and Omaha World Herald obit.
Occupation-Physician: Family Practice; Professor of Family Medicine,University of Nebraska Medical
Center (Omaha)
Education-see below
Religion-Roman Catholic
Baptism-unknown
Medical conditions: silent heart attack (Acute Myocardial Infarction)
Address, Phone/Fax, and E-mail-deceased
Father-Justin David Leahy
Mother-Anne C. (Spellman) LeahyThe James Leahy I remember was a passionate man with many diverseinterests. In football, he liked the Green Bay Packers and the ChicagoBears and, of course, the Fighting Irish of the University of NotreDame. And he disliked teams with an equal intensity, such as theUniversity of Nebraska Cornhuskers. We had a natural rivalry with theCornhuskers. He always told me I didn't know any better. And I alwaysrooted against the Bears just to give him a hard time. It was more funto watch a game when we didn't root for the same teams.
One thing Dad could do was whistle. It was a L O U D, piercingwhistle that could be heard through walls of houses blocks away. When wewere young, Dad would step out on the back porch and whistle. It was oursignal that it was time to head for home. And everyone around knew it.If caught dawdling on the way home, whomever we passed would say, "Youbetter hurry. Your dad whistled for you five minutes ago." In order toproduce the whistle, he curled his 2nd and 3rd fingers down, placed his1st and 4th digits in the corners of his mouth, and blew (--if he onlyknew that he was making the U of TX "hook'em horns" gesture, he probablywould have quit it (see above comments on football)). His face turnedred when he did it. Dad tried to show me how to do it a number oftimes. I could never get it to work. I really think the trick hadsomething to do with his dentures!
When I was in high school, Dad and I, and Gramma Vant, when she wasin town, would often share a late night cup of coffee and maybe somethingto go with it (especially when Gramma Vant was in town). We wouldhalf-listen to the news and Johnny Carson, and talk. The one thing Ilearned from him is that nothing should be taken too seriously. Thatphilosophy probably explains why he was so gentle and compassionate. Andwhy he could laugh at himself with such ease. And those are thequalities in him I most admire and try (yes, I do try) to emulate.
Dad said the Irish like to tease those they love. And he liked totease all of his children and his wife and his parents and in-laws. Healways did it with a twinkle in his eye. And I think he hoped we wouldlearn to laugh at ourselves, too (--RMLeahy).From David S. Leahy, 10 OCT 2002:
I can still see dad sitting at the desk doing paper work from theoffice. He was usually there until around news time. He would stopworking if you had anything you needed help with or if you had a questionthat needed an answer. If the problem was with Mom, he would tell youjust to agree with
her--even if she was wrong.
He always had a stash of candy in the left hand drawer of the desk,either circus peanuts or Brachs mixed candy with the cowboys andIndians.
Dad also loved to go on vacation. I remember traveling across a lotof the United States as a kid. I remember sitting in the back seat of thestation wagon and watching as siblings chased the car as it left a gasstation or some other stop. I remember watching as the trailer stayed onthe railroad
track. Dad spent a lot of time with us as we were growing up. He madeskating rinks in the backyard or ramps with banked curves for the flyingsaucers. The extra time he took to do things with and for his family is avalue I have with my own family.From Marcia (Leahy) Regan, 3 OCT 2002:
One thing I'll always remember about Dad is the passion he had forNotre Dame football and his hatred of the Huskers--both of which havebeen passed on to me. I can remember watching the games with him and,when an exceptionally good or bad play was made, he'd jump up and yell atthe TV. The only time I remember hearing Dad swear was during thosegames when, in his opinion, the refs had made a bad call. I remembergetting up to watch the recap of the Notre Dame game every Sunday beforegoing to church. Dad never tired of seeing the Irish.
I also remember sitting with him rooting against the Huskers. Itdidn't seem to matter who they played. Whoever the opponent was that wasthe team Dad cheered for. He'd be loving this season!
Birth Certificate for James Joseph Leahy
State of Wisconsin, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records
Registered No. 17 County of Ashland, Village of Butternut
Filed 1 MAR 1920 by A. BesseDeath Certificate for James J. Leahy
Certificate of Death No: 63538
Omaha-Douglas County Health Department Vital Statistics Section Recorded22 FEB 1978
by W. R. Jacobson, Registrar
Cause of Death: Acute Myocardial InfarctionSSN 395-14-3861
-------------------------
James J. Leahy, MD
Rite Wednesday for James Leahy
Services for Dr. James J. Leahy, an associate professor of familypractice at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine will be at11:15 a.m. Wednesday in St. Pius X Church.
Leahy, 57, of 5718 Seward St., died Sunday, following a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife, Kay; sons Kevin, of Oahu, Hawaii, James,Robert and David; daughters, Mrs. David Filipi, Janet and Marcia; andmother, Mrs. Ann Leahy, all of Omaha.
The rosary will be recited at 7:30 tonight at Hoffman Mortuary.Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
--from Omaha World Herald, 21 FEB 1978
[from papers saved by Mrs. Anne C. Leahy,
courtesy of Jody (Leahy) Filipi]* * *
Former Area Physician Died
We just received word that a well-known former resident of this areapassed away on February 19, 1978.
Dr. James J. Leahy, also known to many as "Doctor Jim," diedsuddenly on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. He suffered a sudden heart attackat his home and was rushed to the University of Nebraska Medical Centerwhere he died.
A rosary service was held on the evening of February 21. Dr. Leahywas buried on February 22 in the Calvary Cemetery of Omaha.
Dr. Leahy was born in Butternut, Wisonsin on February 27, 1920. Heattended St. Anthony's grade school in Park Falls and was a graduate ofSt. Thomas Military Academy and Notre Dame University. He received hisMD training at Northwestern in Chicago. During World War II, he servedfor two years in the Army Medical Corps, first at Fort Sam Houston inTexas and later in Japan. While in Texas, he married Kay Lillestrand ofMinneapolis on August 10, 1945. Following his discharge, Dr. and Mrs.Leahy moved to Park Falls where he practiced for 12 years with hisfather, Dr. Justin D. Leahy. In 1959, they moved to Omaha, where he wasinvolved in private practice until 1975. He then took a position withthe University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of FamilyPractice.
Surviving are his wife, Kay; children: James, Joan (Mrs. DavidFilipi), Kevin, Robert, David, Janet and Marcia, all of Omaha; twograndchildren, Paul and Scott; his mother, Ann (sic) C. Leahy andbrother, J. Robert Leahy.
Dr. Leahy was a member of the American Academy of Family Practice,the American Medical Association, the Nebraska Medical Association, theGreater Omaha Medical Society and the Knights of Columbus-Park FallsCouncil.
--from the Park Falls Herald, March 1978
(courtesy of Jody Leahy Filipi, from the papers of Anne C. Leahy)* * *
Leahy--James J. MD, age 57 yrs. of 5718 Seward. Survivors, wife, Kay,sons, Kevin of Oahu, Hawaii, James, Robert and David. Daughters, Mrs.David (Joan) Filipi, Janet and Marcia, all Omaha. 2 grandchildren,mother, Mrs. Anne Leahy, Omaha. Brother, J. Robert of Rice Lake, Wisc.
Mass St. Pius the Tenth Church, Wed. 11:15 AM. Interment Calvary.Memorials acceptable to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, c/oDr. Rigby.
Leo A. Hoffmann
24th and Dodge St. 342-3900
--from the Omaha World Herald 22 Feb 1978
(courtesy of Jody Leahy Filipi, from the papers of Anne C. Leahy)
-------------------------Academic, Military and Professional Information
-Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Junior Division, St. Thomas MilitaryAcademy, Cadet Captain, 11 OCT 1937
-Graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy, St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN4 June 1938 (diploma)
-Graduated from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, 10 MAY1942 (diploma)
-Reserve Corps of the Army, 12 MAy 1943 (rank: private; serial # 16172843
Report of Separation, 12 JUN 1945 (Good Conduct Medal, 28 MAR 1945; rank:private first class: reason for separation: to accept commission as 1stLt MC AUS)
-Graduated from Northwestern University--Evanston-Chicago (IL) School ofMedicine, Bachelor of Medicine 13 June 1945 (diploma)
-Graduated from Northwestern University--Evanston-Chicago (IL) School ofMedicine, Doctor of Medicine 17 March 1946 (diploma)
Entry into active duty, 25 APR 1946, Medical Officer, General Duty 3100(rank: captain; serial # 0478647)
-5th Basic Course for Medical Department Officers (15 JUL 1946-7 SEPT1946: # 2237)
-Internship, Milwaukee County Hospital (Milwaulkee, WI) completed 31 MAR1946 (letter)
-Orders to report to Madigan General Hospital, Tacoma, WA on 15 APR 1946received 16 APR 1946, temporary 10-week assignment.
-Service outside the US: 10 OCT 1946-12 DEC 1947 (82nd Field ArtilleryBattalion, Sitama, Gumma, Japan: Diagnosed and treated all types ofmedical and surgical patients, conducted routine sick calls and physicalinspections of military personnel. Maintained all pertinent medicaladministrative records. Also served as division medical inspector ofHeadquarters 1st Cavalry Division, Japan.)
Promotion to Captain: 28 MAY 1947
-Report of Separation, 26 DEC 1947, Camp Stoneman, CA (decorations: WorldWar II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal--Japan; note: othermiscellaneous military papers in possession of Jody (Leahy) Filipi,oldest daughter of James J. Leahy).
-Certification of Licensure, State of Wisconsin, 26 JAN 1948 (#101220)Written Board Exam Score Average: 85.8%
-Certificate of Licensure, State of Wisconsin, 24 AUG 1959 (#13438)
-Certificate of Ability, State of Nebraska, 1 Sept 1959 (#4850)
-Nebraska Medical License, 1 Sept 1959 (#10,431)
Honorable Discharge, Reserve Commissioned Officer of the Army, 9 FEB 1962(rank: major)
-He practiced medicine in Park Falls, WI and in Omaha, NE
-Charter Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians, Sept 1972
-Member American Society of Contemporary Medicine and Surgery, 30 June1975
-Served as a professor on the faculty of the University of NebraskaSchool of Medicine, Department of Family Practice, Omaha, Douglas County,Nebraska, 1975-1978.
(Note: diplomas and certificates in possession of Jody (Leahy) Filipi,oldest daughter of James J. Leahy.)
Personal knowledge and Omaha World Herald obit.
Personal knowledge and Omaha World Herald obit.
Occupation-Army nurse; office manager in husband's office; nurse
Education-see below
Religion-Lutheran; convert to Roman Catholic
Baptism-unknown
Medical conditions: high blood pressure; coronary artery disease
Address-deceased
Phone/Fax-deceased
E-mail-deceased
Father-Karl Bernard Lillestrand
Mother-Elizabeth Johanna "Lizzie" (Christensen) Vant (remarried to IrelG. Vant after death of Karl
Lillestrand)The Kay Leahy I remember was hard working and willing to help anyone andeveryone in any way she could. She worried about others far more thanshe worried about herself. One of the projects she became quite involvedin after her husband died was the funeral support services of herchurch. At the time of her husband's death, the church did not provideas much support to the families as it does now, and I think my motherwould be proud of the difference she made in that area of the church'sministry.
In the kitchen, Mom was a gadget person. I once told her I wasgoing to invent the electric fork for her, which I thought washysterically funny at the time (I think I was a freshman in HighSchool--so I was pretty impressed with everything I did then). Shedidn't think much of that idea, but she did like her other toys: She hadspecial dishes for every conceivable kind of food preparation, andmechanical devices to help with the same. There was the noodle maker andsalad spinner, the electric juicer, the dehydrater, the magic mealsealer.... And all of the toys were marvelous to behold, but they suretook up a lot of room in the kitchen. When I came home from college onbreaks, the counters would be covered with the contraptions. And, Iwould make the mistake of putting them away. The next morning, sheneeded almost everything brought back out for some project or another.What she needed was a bigger kitchen. If she had had the space, I thinkmy mother would have gladly catered any function anyone wanted to puton. Mom's forte was dessert: cookies, cakes and pastries (we won'tmention the prune torte, as every cook is entitled to a few items thatdon't quite make the grade...).
The one thing I would have wished for Mom was more forgiving senseof self. She didn't share my dad's ability to find humor in the thingsshe did. That may be my remembering her more after Dad died thatbefore. I don't think she was ever really happy after Dad died(--RMLeahy).From David S. Leahy, 8 OCT 2002:
I have one memory of Mom that sticks in my mind. After Dad died, Ispent a lot of time driving Mom around, but she would never tell me allthe stops that were going to be made. She figured, "Once you're in thecar, it's on the way." I took a trip to Minnesota to bring Mom homeafter she visited Grandma (Vant). I made one mistake: I let mom drive soI could get sleep as this was an up-and-back trip. Mom decided to takea detour and see relatives in S. Dakota. When I woke, we were pullingonto a gravel road. I asked where we were and she told me. We had lunchwith her relatives, I saw a nice collection of old tractors and lawnmowers, and then we finished the trip home with me behind the wheel. Istill use the saying, "Once you're in the car, it's on the way," but Idon't necessarily follow it.From Marcia (Leahy) Regan, 3 OCT 2002:
In a lot of ways, I had a different Mom than my brothers andsisters, and while I share some of the same kinds of Mom memories as theolder folks, they are not the things that stand out most when I think ofher.
Although she sometimes had strange ways of showing it, family wasprobably the most important thing in Mom's life. And she never hesitatedto give her advice when she thought it was needed.
One of the funniest things I remember occurred when I was a juniorin high school: Mom was in the hospital for her first heart surgery andGrandma L had just died. Dave and I were going to the funeral in WI,and I couldn't get an extension on a paper for a government class. Momdecided she'd write the paper for me while I was gone. She got a C+ andwas furious!
I also remember Mom's almost instantaneous ability to cry. Sheworked this to her advantage when she was upset, but it also snuck up onher whenever she was very happy or proud. The first time I ever played asolo at a contest she came along, and I remember looking up as I finishedto see her crying. I thought I'd really messed it up. It got to thepoint that I never looked at her at concerts because invariably she'dhave tears in her eyes....
I also remember all the ceramics she made and the cakes and candiestoo. Everything she made for me was pink--imagine that!Christened Alvina Katherine. Graduated from nursing school with thatname. New birth certificate issued with name Katherine Alvina.
Birth Certificate for Katherine Alvina Lillestrand
Mound Village, Hennepin County, State of Minnesota
Births for 1921 Recorded 2 MAR 1921 by William McFarland
*Note: Birth Record amended 29 JULY 1946 by R, L, Brown, Deputy Clerk,District Court, 4th Judicial District, Hennepin County, MN
(originally named Alvina Katherine; known thereafter as Kay A.)ssn: 476-10-5967
Academic, Military and Professional information
-Member National Honor Society, South High School, Minneapolis (MN)Public Schools, 26 MAY 1937
-Graduated from South High School, Minneapolis (MN) Public Schools, 17JUN 1938 (diploma)
-Graduated from St. Andrew's Hospital School of Nursing, 1943
-Minnesota Board of Nursing, Registered Nurse, 9 DEC 1943 (#21484; issuedto Katherine Alvina Lillestrand)
-American Red Cross Nursing Service, American Red Cross Nurse, 7 FEB 1944(#148,830; issued to Alvina Katherine Lillestrand)
-Served in ETO as Army nurse: England and France: 78th Field Hospital 22MAR 1945-23 JUL 1946 (EAME Theatre Ribbon, 2 Oversears Service Bars,Victory Medal; rank 2nd Lt, 22 MAR 1945; promoted to 1st Lt., 4 JUN 1946(note, papers in the possession of Jody Leahy Filipi, oldest daughter ofKay Leahy, show that there was some confusion in the promotion processwith duplicate promotion orders given 27 JUN 1946).
-Separation Record, Army of the United States (serial # N 794 979; rank1st Lt.)
-Received a BS in nursing from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL.
-Attended the University of MN.
-Attended College of St. Mary's, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska,1962-1964.
-State of Nebraska, Professional Registered Nurse, 7 NOV 1978 (#33944)
-Completed course work through St. Anthony's in Minneapolis, HennepinCounty, MN____________________
Katherine A. "Kay" LeahyLEAHY--Katherine A. (Kay), age 66 years. Widow of the late Dr. James J.Leahy. Survived by her daughters, Mrs. David (Jody) Filipi, Mrs. David(Janet) Janda, Marcia Leahy, all of Omaha; sons, Dr. James D., OverlandPark, KS, Lt. Commander Kevin B., San Diego, CA, Dr, Robert M.,Levelland, TX, David S., Omaha; mother, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Vant; sister,Mrs. Marshall (Betty) Daniels, Mound, MN; 6 grandchildren.
Services, Mon, 8:00 AM, Westside Chapel to St. Pius X Church at 8:30 AM.Interment, Calvary Cemetery. Rosary Sun, 8 PM, Westside Chapel. Memorialsto St. Pius X Church, for Kay Leahy, no flowers.
John A. Gentleman
Westside Chapel
72nd & Western Avenue, 391-1664--from Omaha World Herald, 31 MAY 1987
[courtesy of Jody (Leahy) Filipi.
____________________From a draft of a letter written to Janice (Black) Ziegenbush Elkins byKay Leahy, dated 18 SEPT 1977:
"In the [Genealogy of the Descendants of Henry and Elsabe Gosch andTheir Descendants] book, I am listed as Alvina Katherine Lillestrand, butit should be Katherine Alvina. I changed it legally when I finished highschool. In school, it was always pronounced wrong or I was called"Alvin"--I was tiring [of] telling people I was a girl and not a boy...."
SSDI Ancestry.com 21 FEB 2001
CATHERINE SERRES
SSN 392-14-0270 Residence: 54963 Omro, Winnebago, WI
Born 23 Sep 1921
Died 10 Mar 1999 Issued: WI (Before 1951)
NOTE: DOB corrected from this source.Occupation-nurse: St. Catherine's Hospital in Fon-du-Lac
Education (from HS to whatever)
Religion
Baptism
Medical conditions:
Address, Phone/Fax, and E-mail-deceased
Father-James Micheal Spellman
Mother-Virginia (Franks) SpellmanFrom Tom Langer, received 12 OCT 2002:
Aunt Kay (Catherine) was born in Milwaukee and married my uncle Dick(Richard) Serres. They raised five kids in Fon-du-Lac, WI, where theylived before moving to Omro, WI, after the kids were gone and a few yearsbefore her death. Aunt Kay was an RN and worked at St. Catherine'sHospital in Fon-du-Lac. I remember her as a very strong person who neverpanicked--probably a characteristic from having five kids and being anurse. I remember her as a wonderful person with a dry sense of humor,and not taking any guff from anyone. She made great chocolate brownies,too. After she died, Uncle Dick re-married (Ruth), and they still livein the same house on the river in Omro.From: Jody (Leahy) Filipi / September 28, 2002 9:06 PM
I do not know anthing about Leonard or his family except forCatherine Serres. We met only once or twice growing up that I recall ...once at their home and we met her husband and children at that time. Shewas my dad's favorite cousin. And after my parents died we correspondedyearly at
Chirstmas, she sharing stories about her family and me trying to keep herup on the news of my brothers and sisters and I and our families. Ienjoyed our correspondence and I miss her Christmas notes.I remember a visit to the Serres home in the summer of 1979. I haddriven Mom and Gramma L. up to a wedding, and we stopped by to see theSerres on the way home. From the conversation, it was clear they had metme when I was nine or ten, but I didn't remember them. They bothremembered my little brother, David, and commented on what a deep voicehe had when he was a child. The good news on that front is that his voicedidn't deepen much when he hit puberty. I remember Gramma and the Serrestalking about Leonard, who died the year I was born. Wish I had listenedin and remembered more of that conversation. Gramma didn't talk aboutLeonard much around me, probably because she found it painful. Iremember she was quite misty-eyed after our visit to the Serres home.--RML
SSDI Ancestry.com
SSN: 391-24-7554 LKR: Butler, WIBurial info from Tom Langer, received 5 OCT 2002. (Date: 11 OCT 1996)
Names of parents of Willard Langer received from Tom Langer 5 OCT 2002.
Langer, Willard T. "Bill"
Publication Date: February 10, 2003 (www.beckerritter.com)
Born to Eternal Life on Friday, February 7, 2003. Beloved husband ofthe late Mary Langer. Dear father of Mike Langer, Kathy (Dennis) Beier,Tom (Gail) Langer, Beth (David) Keber, Molly (Jason) Simon and JeanLanger (fiancee Chris). Loving grandpa of Luke, Travis (Franki), Matthew(fiancee Christina), Michelle, (fiancee Deric), Heidi, Charlie, Emily,Josh, Dan, Becky. Also survived by brother Don of Janesville, WI, otherrelatives and friends.
Visitation Tuesday, February 11, 2003 at the Becker Ritter FuneralHome 4:00PM until the time of service at 6:00PM. Memorials appreciated toSt. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Agnes Church or Divine Word College.Bill was a WWII Navy Veteran. He was a long time purchasing manager ofHeil Company and Lakeside Bridge and Steel. Bill volunteered for St.Vincent De Paul Society at St. Agnes church and many other organizations.Bill was a UW alum, Badger fan, and avid gardener.
Sympathy Expressions and Directions www.beckerritter.com
BECKER RITTER/Michael Feerick Associate/14075 West North Avenue(262)782-5330
JAMES M SPELLMAN
SSN 387-26-2218 Residence: 62534 Findlay, Shelby, IL
Born 1 Dec 1931
Died 22 May 1995 Issued: WI (Before 1951)Occupation-Caterpiller
Education (from HS to whatever)
Religion
Baptism
Medical conditions:
Address, Phone/Fax, and E-mail-deceased
Father-Leonard Spellman
Mother-Mary L. (Miller) Spellman