Leona Charline (Oakleaf) Russell

Leona Charline Russell left this earthly life to live eternally with our heavenly Father on Friday, August 18, 2023, at the age of 85. Her family and friends had been attentively helping her overcome a cancer diagnosis. Leona was born on July 15, 1938, the daughter of Blanche (Nicholson) and Charles Oakleaf Leona married Donald Eugene Russell on June 16, 1957. Together they raised four children. Kenneth (Karann McHugh) Russell , Venetta (Victor Pepperell) Carpenter, Everett (Kathryn) Russell and Allen (Ellen Synder) Russell.

Leona had an eye for quality and the finer things. She was an avid lover of roses, Don always made sure to grow her a rose garden. They both loved to travel. Including cross country road trips with their four young children in a station wagon. Once the kids were raised, they took up traveling by motorcycle or their hybrid conversion van. Later in life Leona and Don enjoyed cruising. Many great memories were formed on these trips. Leona was proud of her work at AT&T, even receiving recognition for no workdays missed for many consecutive years. She was an excellent seamstress, her and Don even made quilts together. Country music was her favorite. Amazingly she never lost the ability to recall the artist’s name when a song came on the radio.

She is survived by all her children, her loving sister Betty (John) Wunderly, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Leona was preceded in death by her adoring husband Donald, her brother Clyde Oakleaf, her sister Minnie-Pearl Foster, grandson Jason Russell, and daughter-in-law Deborah Russell.

Visitation will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in West Bend at 3 pm on Saturday August 26, 2023. 

Special thanks to Cedar Community for making her comfortable during her time of need. And additional thanks to her church community.

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