Ida B. Leuenberger, age 84 of Monroe, died on Saturday, October 18, 2008 surrounded by her family.
She was born on February 24, 1924 in Gossau, Switzerland, the daughter of Johann and Kathryn (Scherrer) Hardeggar.
She emigrated from Switzerland and settled in Orangeville, IL in 1952. Ida and Hans Leuenberger were married on April 21, 1954 at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
They owned and operated the Speich Cheese Factory north east of Monroe until 1962. They purchased a dairy farm in Winslow, IL which they operated until Hans' death on January 1, 1982. Ida moved to Monroe in 1998.
She was a member of St. Victor Catholic Church, The Monroe Swiss Singers, a lifelong member of Stateline Homemakers, and a former member of Stephenson County Farm Bureau and Stephenson County Soil and Water Conservation District. She enjoyed woodcarving and volunteering at Monroe Hospital where she knitted caps for the newborns. Ida was extremely proud of her Swiss heritage, but was equally proud that she and Hans became American citizens. Hans and Ida came to America with little money and big dreams and were able to fulfill them. They were foster parents to many children and later in life Ida continued foster care and volunteered at St. Victor School.
Survivors include two sons, John (Robinn) Leuenberger of Winslow, IL and Tom (Sue) Leuenberger of Browntown; four grandchildren, Erica (Jaime) Jones, and Erin, John, and Lexi Leuenberger; two great-grandchildren, Michael and Marissa Jones; and a sister, Rosa Meile of Steckborn, Switzerland.
She was preceded by her parents and husband; a sister, Cyrena Germann; and six brothers, Johann, Alois, Christian, Joe, Emil, and Franz Hardeggar
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at 1 p.m. at St. Victor Catholic Church with Father Michael Klarer officiating. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lena, IL at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A visitation will be held at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. A memorial fund will be established in Ida's name. To sign the guestbook or send a condolence go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
She was born on February 24, 1924 in Gossau, Switzerland, the daughter of Johann and Kathryn (Scherrer) Hardeggar.
She emigrated from Switzerland and settled in Orangeville, IL in 1952. Ida and Hans Leuenberger were married on April 21, 1954 at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
They owned and operated the Speich Cheese Factory north east of Monroe until 1962. They purchased a dairy farm in Winslow, IL which they operated until Hans' death on January 1, 1982. Ida moved to Monroe in 1998.
She was a member of St. Victor Catholic Church, The Monroe Swiss Singers, a lifelong member of Stateline Homemakers, and a former member of Stephenson County Farm Bureau and Stephenson County Soil and Water Conservation District. She enjoyed woodcarving and volunteering at Monroe Hospital where she knitted caps for the newborns. Ida was extremely proud of her Swiss heritage, but was equally proud that she and Hans became American citizens. Hans and Ida came to America with little money and big dreams and were able to fulfill them. They were foster parents to many children and later in life Ida continued foster care and volunteered at St. Victor School.
Survivors include two sons, John (Robinn) Leuenberger of Winslow, IL and Tom (Sue) Leuenberger of Browntown; four grandchildren, Erica (Jaime) Jones, and Erin, John, and Lexi Leuenberger; two great-grandchildren, Michael and Marissa Jones; and a sister, Rosa Meile of Steckborn, Switzerland.
She was preceded by her parents and husband; a sister, Cyrena Germann; and six brothers, Johann, Alois, Christian, Joe, Emil, and Franz Hardeggar
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at 1 p.m. at St. Victor Catholic Church with Father Michael Klarer officiating. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lena, IL at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A visitation will be held at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. A memorial fund will be established in Ida's name. To sign the guestbook or send a condolence go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net