Josephine Thelma Leslie
July 22, 1920 — May 5, 2016
Josephine Thelma Gross Leslie
Josephine Thelma Gross Leslie was born southwest of Avoca, Iowa on July 22, 1920. She was the daughter of William R. and Grace Ring Gross. She was one of four children in the family.
Josephine was united in marriage to James Leslie on April 14, 1941, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Venice, California. They were the parents of four children: JoAnne, Jean, Judith, and James. She passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa.
Josephine was a graduate of Avoca High School and of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She taught rural school for four years in Harrison and Pottawattamie counties. She was a fifth grade teacher in the AvoHa School system for nineteen years, retiring in 1976.
She was active in politics for a number of years serving as Pottawattamie County vice-chairman of the Democratic party for one term. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church; of the Ladies Association of the Avoca Country club; of Newton-Avoca Historical Society as a charter member; of Federated Women’s Club of Avoca; and the Retired Teachers group. She and James enjoyed wintering in Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her husband James, son James Robert, her parents, a granddaughter Katherine Hansen, two sisters, Beatrice Wise and Wilma Weinmann, and her brother Bernard Gross.
Josephine leaves to mourn her passing her daughters: JoAnne and her husband James Sweeney of Altus, Oklahoma; Jean and her husband Arlan Kuehn of South Sioux City, Nebraska; and Judith and her husband Donald Willoughby of Sioux City, Iowa; Thomas (Roseanne) Sweeney and family; Lori (Tim) Cavin and family; Michael Willoughby; Dave and Dan Kuehn and families grandchildren; great-grandchildren; step-great-grandchildren;; cousins, nephews; nieces other relatives and many friends.
Josephine Thelma Gross Leslie was born southwest of Avoca, Iowa on July 22, 1920. She was the daughter of William R. and Grace Ring Gross. She was one of four children in the family.
Josephine was united in marriage to James Leslie on April 14, 1941, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Venice, California. They were the parents of four children: JoAnne, Jean, Judith, and James. She passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa.
Josephine was a graduate of Avoca High School and of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She taught rural school for four years in Harrison and Pottawattamie counties. She was a fifth grade teacher in the AvoHa School system for nineteen years, retiring in 1976.
She was active in politics for a number of years serving as Pottawattamie County vice-chairman of the Democratic party for one term. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church; of the Ladies Association of the Avoca Country club; of Newton-Avoca Historical Society as a charter member; of Federated Women’s Club of Avoca; and the Retired Teachers group. She and James enjoyed wintering in Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her husband James, son James Robert, her parents, a granddaughter Katherine Hansen, two sisters, Beatrice Wise and Wilma Weinmann, and her brother Bernard Gross.
Josephine leaves to mourn her passing her daughters: JoAnne and her husband James Sweeney of Altus, Oklahoma; Jean and her husband Arlan Kuehn of South Sioux City, Nebraska; and Judith and her husband Donald Willoughby of Sioux City, Iowa; Thomas (Roseanne) Sweeney and family; Lori (Tim) Cavin and family; Michael Willoughby; Dave and Dan Kuehn and families grandchildren; great-grandchildren; step-great-grandchildren;; cousins, nephews; nieces other relatives and many friends.
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