Nancy Jo Leonard

Nancy Jo Leonard, age 74, of Ottumwa, IA, passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Unity Point Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA. Nancy was born on December 23, 1947, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ottumwa, IA, to David and Harriet (Windle) Lewis. She grew up attending school in Ottumwa and graduated with the class of 1966. On October 16, 1971, she was united in marriage to Fred Leonard at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ottumwa and to this union, a daughter, Nicki, was born. Nancy and Fred shared 51 years of marriage prior to her passing. Nancy had a long career in teaching dance classes. She taught at the Lois Rae Watts School of Dance in Ottumwa. When Nicki was around 10 years old, Nancy started Nancy’s School of Dance, teaching in Eddyville, Blakesburg, and Moravia. In 1994, she starting teaching at Dance Time in Ottumwa before working as the receptionist and helping teach at Nicki’s Dance Time in Albia in 2006-2007. Nancy then worked at Busy Bee Laundry in Ottumwa until she retired. Nancy was very artistic and talented with crafts. She was an excellent baker, making cookies and cakes of all kinds, and was known for her cake decorating skills. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved cats and dogs, especially her dogs, Mimi, Muffy, and Taylor and Siamese cat, Charlie. Nancy was very thoughtful, caring, and generous. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and helping plan and decorate for birthday parties. Her true joy in life was her grandson, Ben, whom she adored. She cherished all of the time she spent with him, especially taking him back to school shopping each year, to movies and out to eat at McDonalds and to the park to feed the geese. She was one of his biggest fans, never missing a baseball game, no matter how early she had to get up or how far she had to travel to get there. She often brought treats for Ben’s team, the Timber Rattlers, who affectionately called her G-ma Rattler. Nancy is survived by her husband, Fred Leonard; her daughter, Nicki (Brian) Pumphrey; her grandson, Ben Pumphrey; and good friends, Georgia Larue and Carla Ladely. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, David and Harriet Lewis and her grandmother, Donna Windle. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Nancy’s family present to greet family and friends. Per Nancy’s wishes, her family requests that those in attendance dress casually. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 29, 2022, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Pastor Ryan Smith officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the family to be used for youth baseball.

Nancy Jo Leonard

December 23, 1947 - October 23, 2022