Renate Leonard Obituary

Renate I. Leonard died peacefully on March 22, 2025. She was born May 6, 1938 to Wilhem and Irmgard Teitze in Leipzig, Germany.

Renate met her husband, Loren E. Leonard in Germany and they were married in 1960. Shortly after she came to the United States and they settled in Des Moines, Iowa where she was a lifelong resident.

Renate was trained in accounting and worked in several banks throughout Des Moines. She thoroughly enjoyed people, and meeting new ones. She could strike up a conversation with total strangers anytime and anywhere, and make a new friend. She was intelligent, feisty and loved humor and laughter.

Renate loved feeding people and was an accomplished cook, everyone who walked through her door was given a meal, hungry or not. Her greatest loves were her family and gardening. She would spend hours daily nurturing her gardens, and was featured in the local paper and some magazines. She loved her children fiercely; and doted on her grandchildren, taking them to farmer’s markets, local sites and everywhere she went.

Renate was preceded in death by her two eldest sons, Merrill and Michael. She is survived by her husband of more than 60 years, Loren; a daughter Romy (Mike) Siders, and son Terrence. Granddaughters Jessica, Danielle, Rachel, Mikelle, Bailee and Alexi; grandson Max and five great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel

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