Jerome L. Leif

Jerome “Jerry” LeRoy Leif, 74, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Monday, April 22, 2019. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Betty (Loecher) Leif; his son David and daughter-in-law Noel, and their children Hannah, Niklaus, and Eric; his son Scott and daughter-in-law Maureen and their daughters Gabrielle, Addison, and Camryn; and his daughter, Megan (Lay), son-in-law, Brandon, and their children, Zach, Genna, and Sarah. Jerry was the eldest of Claude “Bud” and Alice Mae’s eleven children (Georgia, Paul, Keith, Fr. Greg, Larry, Joe, Don, Dan, Mary and Steve). Raised in Austin, Minnesota, he graduated from Pacelli High School in Minnesota before going on to receive his Associate Degree. Jerry honorably served his country in the U.S. Army, including service in the Vietnam War. Jerry initially joined IBM in their offices in Rochester, Minnesota, then went on to work for them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was an accomplished salesperson with many awards and inclusion in the company’s honorary Golden Circle and 100% Club. He was always a positive role model and friend to co-workers, as evidenced by the strong bonds he still had with his colleagues from IBM, Great Lakes Packaging, and American Paper and Packaging. He met his wife, Betty, in the first grade and they were married in 1968. They had a fairytale love story and raised their two sons and daughter in Greendale, Wisconsin. As one friend described it, “BettyandJerry” was always one word. Jerry would playfully tease Betty and she would say, “Oh Jerry” with a smile. They traveled the world together hand in hand for years and last summer, in Lake Tahoe, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary together with their families. A faithful and devoted Catholic, Jerry often attended daily mass. Most recently, he was a member of St. Joan of Arc in Nashotah, Wisconsin, where he was an active member with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was always volunteering in the community and served as a Board Member of Friends of Autism and Co-Chair of the Annual Golf Outing for fifteen years, helping to fundraise for research and awareness of autism. Jerry’s most important job was being a hands-on husband, dad, and grandpa. He taught everyone in the family how to live fiercely, treat everyone with respect, live faithfully, love greatly, and play a mean game of golf and cards. He had a cheering squad of nine grandkids that loved him to the moon. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, May 3, 2019, with visitation from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 4:00 p.m. at St Joan of Arc in Nashotah, Wisconsin, by Pastor, Rev. Michael Strachota and Father Gregory Leif, Jerry’s brother. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jerry’s honor are suggested to: St. Joan of Arc Parish 120 Nashotah Rd, Nashotah, WI 53058 or Friends of Autism http://www.friendsofautism.org/Donate-Now