Leone Marie Sutherland

Leone Marie Sutherland passed away on April 14, 2024 in Merced, California at the age of 101. She had moved to a retirement facility in Merced from Mariposa, CA shortly after the 2014 death of her loving husband of 69 years, G. Russell (“Russ”) Sutherland. Leone is survived by sons and daughters- in-law Keith and Nancy Sutherland of Cedar Rapids, IA and Glenn and Kathy Sutherland of Midpines, CA. She also is survived by 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband Russ, one sister, and her parents. Leone was born to Louis and Lucille Witkowski on April 11, 1923 in Berlin, Wisconsin. There she met her high school sweetheart, Russ. After graduating from Berlin High School, Russ attended the University of Wisconsin, while Leone went to college near Berlin. Early in 1945, they planned to be married at a church ceremony in Berlin, but the U.S. Navy sent Russ to an engineering school in Ithaca, NY on very short notice. Rather than wait, they decided to marry in a small private ceremony in Ithica, to which Leone travelled alone on the train, sitting on her suitcase the entire way. Leone accompanied Russ as the Navy sent him to a series of schools in the eastern U.S. While Russ served on a mine-sweeper in the Pacific, Leone returned home to Wisconsin. After World War II ended, they reunited at the University of Wisconsin, where Leone got her degree and Russ received a master’s degree. After college, Russ started a career with John Deere that took Leone and Russ to Ottumwa, IA, Des Moines, IA, and Moline, IL. After Russ’ retirement in 1987, they moved to their dream lake home in Bella Vista, AR, and then to Mariposa, CA in 2000. At various stages in their lives, Leone enjoyed playing bridge, playing golf, and travelling with Russ. Through Leone’s 101 years, there has been one constant: her devotion to family. Throughout Russ’ long and successful career, she played a critical support role. She helped to entertain visiting business people, made sure that dinner was ready when Russ got home from work, and kept the home fires burning during his long business trips. Once her boys came along, she was a devoted mother, den mother, and Little League baseball fan. And when the grandchildren came along, she was there to help when they came home from the hospital, fried up the fish they caught (no matter how small), and gave them “unbirthday” gifts. Throughout her life, Leone seldom was in the limelight, but was a shining star for her family. There will be a brief visitation with the family at the Wiecki-Shipchak funeral home in Berlin, Wisconsin at 9:30 AM on June 3, with a graveside memorial service and burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery at 10:30 am that day. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation, P O Box 1093, Mariposa, CA 95338.

Leone Marie Sutherland

April 11, 1923 - April 14, 2024