Robert T. Leonard

Robert "Bob" Thomas Leonard, age 87, of Stoughton, WI, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024, at Skaalen Assisted Living. He was born November 15, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to the late Thomas and Pauline (Baumhauer, Schmidt) Leonard. He married Catherine (Cathie) Irene Scott on July 11, 1959, at Faith Lutheran Church in Brookfield, IL.

Bob loved his wife and his children. He was a hard-working family man, working overtime and handy with tools and projects, including wood burning plaques. He appreciated nature and the outdoors, including feeding the birds and squirrels, planting flowers, tending tropical fish, visiting the Brookfield Zoo, and going camping and fishing. He liked movies and TV shows where the “good guys” won, watching Chicago sports, and laughing at a good joke.

Bob lived in Brookfield, IL, for most of his life, where he attended S.E. Gross grade school and Riverside-Brookfield High School. He played the saxophone in the high school band.

After high school, Bob joined the Army for a few years and became a radio operator, learning Morse Code. He was in Paris and Germany in peace time. After coming home from the Army, he met Cathie at church and she became the love of his life.

He and Cathie raised two children, Gaye and Scott, and the family had a miniature schnauzer named Muffin. While raising his family and until retirement, he was employed as a Machinist and then was a Quality Control Technician at a gear plant in Downers Grove, IL, and then Chicago, IL.

Bob and his family enjoyed many years of camping with a monthly group and at the Whiteface Reservoir campground in Minnesota where he went fishing and enjoyed hot dogs, campfire pies, popcorn and s’mores around the fire. He and his wife later camped at Hartman Creek State Park and then Deerhaven campground, both in Waupaca, WI. Bob and Cathie also enjoyed square dancing and round dancing. They also appreciated celebrating Thanksgivings with the Lehmans.

Bob is survived by his children Gaye (Bill) Lehman of Stoughton, WI, and Scott (Betsy Olson) Leonard of Shawnee, KS; his sister-in-law, Marilla (Jay) Svinicki of The Hills, TX; his granddaughter Michelle (Alex) Nelson of Leawood, KS; his great grandchildren Olivia and John Nelson, and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 63 years, Cathie; his parents, Tom and Pauline; his brother, Tom Leonard, and sister, Linda (Lorne “Dave”, Sr.) Mann. 

The family extends their gratitude and appreciation to First Lutheran Church; the caring staff of Skaalen Assisted Living and Agrace Hospice; friends in the neighborhood near Skaalen, medical professionals of SSMHealth and Stoughton Health; Cress Funeral Services of Stoughton; Plymouth Place Assisted Living of LaGrange Park, IL; and family doctor, Dr. Margaret Hannon of Western Springs, IL.  Appreciation also goes out to the neighbors and friends of Brookfield, IL.

A Service of Praise to God for the Life of Robert Thomas Leonard will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 2:00 pm at First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington Street, Stoughton, WI. After the service, everyone is invited to visit with the family in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Brookfield Zoo (brookfieldzoo.org), Share Food Share Love Food Pantry (sharefoodsharelove.com), and First Lutheran Church (facilities).

Please share your memories of Bob by posting in his Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Services

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244