Mary Ann Leake, age 98, of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly.
Mary Ann’s adventure began on May 28, 1928, in Virgil, Ill. She grew up with a deep affection for her hometown, and often spoke about the close, lifelong bond she shared with relatives and friends there. Her youth occurred during a much simpler time, allowing her to venture out on her own at a very young age. After completing the eighth grade, her adventurous spirit and beautiful voice led her to Chicago to audition for the radio, and work full time at a women’s department store. While destiny had other plans for her career, that bold step marked the beginning of a magnificent life’s journey.
In 1952, at the tender age of 24, she married her sweetheart, Jack Leake, beginning a beautiful 73-year love story that lasted until his recent passing. As Jack entered military service, the young couple headed to Oceanside California, where they welcomed their first daughter. It was there that Mary Ann discovered her true lifelong calling as a mother and an amazing homemaker. Following Jack’s military service, they returned to the Chicagoland area, and in the 19 years that followed, their vibrant family grew to include five daughters and two boys.
Mary Ann and Jack shared a love for travel and spent decades searching for the perfect place to live. Their travels and moves took them on a lively trail through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, before they finally settled in Prairie du Chien to enjoy their golden years.
Mary Ann possessed an innate, profound wisdom that surpassed any formal education; she was simply the truest and wisest guiding light her family has ever known. Within her home, she delicately reigned as a quiet, comforting force, orchestrating a bustling household of seven children with a self-sacrificing and effortless grace. She moved seamlessly between her many roles—tending to her garden, baking warmth into the home, and healing small ills as a nurturing caregiver — always making the truly extraordinary look effortlessly simple.
Her children fondly remember a safe and comfortable home that overflowed with life, where the house was never empty, and every single mealtime felt like a grand celebration, featuring a delicious homemade feast spread across the kitchen table. As a gem of many facets, Mary Ann also loved to dance, and she sang with the sweet clarity of an angel. Her quick-witted humor and heartfelt laughter filled the family home with joy, leaving a rare and beautiful spark that continues to glow uniquely within each of her seven children.
Capturing the essence of Mary Ann would be like trying to paint the warmth of a radiant sunset. Just as God painted all the beauty across this earth, He crafted her enduring spirit with a brilliant array of indescribable colors. She lived her entire life as a deeply selfless, kind-hearted, and patient soul, serving as a sanctuary of calm in times of chaos, a steady anchor of faith in troubled waters, and a wellspring of boundless forgiveness. With a fiercely loyal heart, she always stood as a passionate champion for the underdog and a comforting refuge for anyone facing hardship.
Mary Ann was her family’s unshakable foundation, comforter, and compass; permanently etching the true meaning of love onto their hearts, simply by the way she lived her life. To know her was to know a rare inner beauty that could never be matched or replaced.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Leake, her parents, Joseph and Adele Altepeter, and brother, Charles Altepeter. She is deeply missed by her family, but her legacy of love lives on through her surviving children: Diane Leake (Mike Kloss), Jackie (Mike) Kluesner, Sharon (John) Olszewski, Tom (Shelly) Leake, Cathy (Bryan) Irvin, Joanne (Clint) McDuffey, and Bryan Lake. She is also survived and fondly remembered by her many cherished grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and siblings, Bud and Henry Altepeter.
In accordance with Mary Ann’s wishes, a private family service will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church, followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery, in Prairie du Chien. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the thoughts and prayers received during this time.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.
