2023 04/20 – Helen E. Leonhardt

Helen E. Leonhardt, 72, of Salem, Illinois passed away on April 11. 2023 at Heila Healthcare in Salem.

Born July 12, 1950, in Bay Shore, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, Long Island, N.Y., she was the daughter of Elbert E. and Hilda (Vanderplate) Tuttle.

Simple cremation was selected. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Memorials to Helen’s memory of the Donor’s choice may be left with the Sutherland – Rankin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 97, 310 N. Broadway, Salem, IL 62881 (618) 548-1234, entrusted with the family’s care. Online condolence may be left at sutherlandfuneralhome.com

Helen will be remembered as having a heart for Jesus and helping those in need. It was important to her that she confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior and that she was assured Eternal Life with the Lord. John 15:04 was vitally important to her. Personally, she loved sailing, her school years and many years teaching, volunteering especially with the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, both spending time with and enjoying her grandchild, as well as time spent with her husband Paul while cooking, gardening, and the life activities they had in common.

She married Paul Harold Leonhardt on April 14, 2002, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Prospect, IL in a very special service that meant so much to them. Paul survives in Salem.

Also surviving is her step-son Paul Joseph Leonhardt and wife Dionne of Grays Lake, IL, step-grandson Paul Henry Leonhardt; her siblings John and wife Janet-Lee, Ken and wife Jacquie, Matthew and wife Susan and Ruth Woessner; nieces Jessica Collera, Samantha Tuttle and Amanda Tuttle; nephews Glenn Tuttle, Alexander Tuttle, Dean Tuttle, Craig Tuttle, Brian Woessner, and Kevin Woessner.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Terry Tuttle.