Obituary of JAMES RICHARD LEONARD

JULY 19, 1945 - MARCH 13, 2011 IT IS WITH GREAT SHOCK AND EVEN GREATER SORROW THAT WE MOURN THE LOSS OF AN OUTSTANDING MAN, FATHER, GRANDPA, HUSBAND, BROTHER, SON, UNCLE AND FRIEND. JIM WAS BORN IN MORDEN, MANITOBA TO JAMES AND CONNIE (CLARK) LEONARD. THE OLDEST OF 5 CHILDREN, HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS BROTHERS JOHN (LORRAINE) AND BILL (BELLA), AND SISTERS SHERYL CLAVETTE (MARCEL) AND CRYSTAL BROWN (MARK). HE MARRIED CATHY, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, IN 1971. THEY HAVE 2 CHILDREN, JULIE LAVERGNE (RON) AND TYLER (ALYCIA). THERE ARE 6 CHERISHED GRANDCHILDREN, (JOCELYN, JILLIAN, ROHAN AND KEIRA LAVERGNE - KEYAN AND CARTER LEONARD), THAT WILL MISS ALL THE HIKES, GOING TO THE RIVER WITH MAGNUM, CHECKER GAMES AND EVEN THE OATMEAL! THEY ARE THE ONES THAT KNOW BEST THAT UNDER THAT TOUGH SHELL THERE WAS A GIANT MARSHMALLOW. MOST MEMORABLE WORDS TO ALL US KIDS: “HAVE YOU WASHED YOUR HANDS?” “EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!” AND “DID YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH?” JIM IS RESPECTED IN THE SAINT JOHN COMMUNITY AS A HARDWORKING AND HONEST BUSINESSMAN. HE STARTED OUT SELLING WAX OUT OF HIS GARAGE AND STRIPPING FLOORS AND BUILT UP A FAMILY BUSINESS, LEONARD SANITATION SUPPLIES LTD. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS GENEROSITY AND WORK ETHIC. HE APPLIED THE PROVERB “GIVE A MAN A FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR THE DAY - TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A LIFETIME”. AS HE LOVED THE OUTDOORS, WHEN HE WASN’T AT ‘THE OFFICE’, YOU COULD FIND HIM HIKING, FISHING, CAMPING, CANOEING, GROWING VEGETABLES IN HIS GARDEN, MOTORCYCLING, OR MOST LIKELY AT THE RIVER WITH ONE OF THE DOGS (MAGNUM, AXEL, CYRUS OR DUTCHESS). HE HAD A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR ANIMALS. HE LOVED TO COOK FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HE’S FAMOUS FOR HIS STIR FRYS, PORTUGESE SHRIMP, AND ‘THROWING A TURKEY ON THE BBQ’. HE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A LONG ANTICIPATED TRIP TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. HE MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS AND WAS RENEWED BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. ABOVE ALL ELSE, JIM WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF JEHOVAH GOD FOR OVER 50 YEARS. HE VOLUNTEERED IN THE PIONEER MINISTRY FOR MANY YEARS HELPING TO SHARE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE WITH MANY. HE ENJOYED MANY PRIVELEDGES IN THE CHIRISTIAN CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. THE BIGGEST TRIAL OF HIS LIFE WAS CARING FOR AND LOSING HIS DEAR WIFE CATHY. HE SPENT THE LAST 3 YEARS PATIENTLY WAITING FOR GOD’S PROMISE IN REV 21:3,4 “...AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM. AND HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES AND DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, NEITHER WILL MOURNING NOR OUTCRY NOR PAIN BE ANYMORE. THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.” NOW WE WILL FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE AND CARRY ON, RELYING ON JEHOVAH FOR ‘THE POWER BEYOND WHAT IS NORMAL.’(2 CORINTHIANS 4:7) AND DEMONSTRATING OUR FAITH IN HIS PROMISES. THEY BOTH SLEEP IN JEHOVAHS MEMORY AND WE WILL PATIENTLY WAIT TO BE REUNITED ONCE AGAIN WITH THEM IN PARADISE. (LUKE 23:43 - JOHN 5:28,29 - JOHN 11:25) IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF JIM MAY BE MADE TO THE WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF CANADA, PO BOX 4100, GEORGETOWN, ONTARIO, L7G 4Y4, A CHARITY THAT WAS DEAR TO JIM’S HEART. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD THIS SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2011, 2PM, AT THE KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, 14 ELLIOT ROAD, QUISPAMSIS, NB ARRANGEMENTS ARE ENTRUSTED TO KENNEBECASIS COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME, 152 PETTINGILL ROAD, QUISPAMSIS, (506) 849-2119.