Michael Leonard's Obituary
Michael Leonard, 63, of North Ridgeville died the morning of June 27th at home. If you did not know him, he seemed like a normal blue-collar, Christian man; he worked on the assembly line for Ford Motor Company for 42 years, and he was a founding member of the Cathedral of Life Church. But, as with all great super heroes—Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman—Michael had a superpower beyond a regular human: the power of love.
Warning: this will not be your typical obituary.
Michael was raised in North Ridgeville by his parents, Walter and Nell Leonard, with his siblings Glenn, Steven, and Jane. Many would say he was a mama’s boy, but he also loved his father with a fierceness that could never be described. Overall, he was a pretty quiet child. He loved to sit on the couch and watch television, and he developed a love for animals. In fact, his brothers would tell you that the only time Michael was a problem was when he would try to go trapping animals with his brothers, and when he caught one, he could not “finish” the job, so they had to “take care” of the animal for him.
Michael met Nancy, his wife, in 1973, and they married in 1975. Together, they raised three children: Jennifer, Jessica, and Brian. He gave them a childhood of laughter and love, but as the children grew, married, and started their own lives, Michael felt a hole in his heart. He and Nancy began to foster children, and over the years Michael was able to show them love, and he loved them dearly. But, that was not enough. The hole would grow again when the children went home. However, he found three boys—Brandon Guthrie Leonard, Rodger Leonard, and Joe Leonard—who Michael and Nancy adopted and raised and loved as their own.
After his diagnosis in July of 2016, his superpower emanated from his core. With each piece of bad news, Michael found a bright side. He wanted those who loved him to not worry. He made them laugh when they were sad or scared, and he reminded them every day how much he loved them, and they made sure he knew that they loved him too. In his final days, he was surrounded by his family—his wife and children, his father and brothers, his grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and in-laws. They all wanted him to know that he taught them to love the way he loved. They wanted him to know that they would move the earth for him the way he moved the universe for them.
Michael’s legacy remains with his father Walter A. Leonard of North Ridgeville; his wife Nancy Leonard; his brothers Glenn Leonard and Steven Leonard and their wives Wygonda Leonard and Michelle Leonard; his children Jennifer Harmon, Jessica Perez, Brian Leonard, Gino Pirozzoli, Brandon Leonard, Rodger Leonard, and Joe Leonard; his son-in-laws Stephen Harmon and Michael Perez; his daughter-in-law Jennifer Leonard; his grandsons Stephen Harmon, Jonathan Harmon, Tyler Leonard, and Andrew Leggett; his granddaughters Avery Leonard, Brooklyn Leonard, and Kennedy Leonard; his many nieces and nephews; and the many foster children who he loved over the years.
Michael was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Nell Leonard, his little sister, Jane Kilby, and his infant son, Michael Earl Leonard Jr. who died in infancy in 1978.
All who knew him loved him because they all knew who he really was. Super Mike is now up, up and away.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at Bogner’s Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Road in North Ridgeville from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Service will be held on Friday at 12 Noon in the funeral home, with Pastor Mike Payne officiating. Burial will be in Ridgeville Cemetery, North Ridgeville., A reception will follow at Cathedral of Life Church, 5375 Jaycox Road in North Ridgeville.
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