Bruce William Leonard, 71, died peacefully on February 6th 2020 after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. Bruce is survived by the love of his life Donna (nee Taibain), cherished sons Andrew (Fiancée Angie Herbst) and Michael (Samantha), fond brother of Debra Klein (Mark), nephew Christopher Klein, two labradoodles, Stanley and Gibson, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles. Bruce was born June 1, 1948 and raised in the Brainerd neighborhood of Chicago. He was the son of the late William and Mabel Leonard (nee Clark). He relocated to North Western Wisconsin in 1996 and moved from Hudson to New Richmond in 2018. Bruce was educated in the Chicago public school system (Calumet High School grad 1966). He received a BS in business and economics from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1970 and MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in 1976. Bruce spent over 35 successful years in Human Resource management positions including founding an HR consulting company. He also worked part time for over 17 years at an adjunct instructor for WITC in New Richmond. He enjoyed volunteering which included being an elected school board member for Matteson-Richton Park 159 School District in Matteson, IL, Blue Island Area Chamber of Commerce officer, Cub Scout Pack den leader in Hudson, and an officer with SCORE. Bruce was an avid Chicago sports fan his whole life and liked reading mafia books, but what Bruce really loved was spending time with his family and going to the casino and traveling on cruises with his wife Donna, and together went on 29 Princess Cruises.

A funeral service for Bruce will be on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 2pm at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson. Visitation will be the night prior on Saturday from 5pm – 8pm also at O’Connell’s, and one hour prior to the service on Sunday. The family wants to thank the outstanding medical treatment from the staffs of Regions Hospital ENT and Cardiology Dept.’s, Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin, Hudson Specialty Clinics, and Hudson Hospital.

A special thanks to Dr. Derek Schmidt for the wonderful care he provided to Bruce. His compassion, knowledge, candor and sense of humor made the struggle so much easier. Memorials can be made to The Poor Clare Monastery at 1175 N 300 W Kokomo, IN 46901-1799 or the St. Patrick Church in Hudson.

“Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.”