Leonese M. Smith

Leonese Merle Smith, age 86, formerly of Fall Creek passed away on August 2, 2025 at The Meadows of Fall River. She was born in Barron, Wisconsin to Charles Leonard Bishop and Ruby (O'Dell) Bishop. She was the youngest of five children.

Leonese graduated from Barron High School. She continued her education and graduated from The Barron County Teacher's College and UW Stevens Point. She went on to teach for the Stanfold, Bruce, Medford and Fall Creek (29 yrs) public schools. She retired in 1998 from the Fall Creek School District. In retirement, she continued as a substitute teacher in Fall Creek. Teaching was her passion!

On August 11, 1962 Leonese married the love of her life James at the First United Methodist Church in Barron. They have two sons: James of Brooksville, Florida, and Brian (Rhonda) of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She has three grandchildren: Kayla, Carson and Katelyn and a grand dog named Benny. She loved them very much!!

During her life, Leonese was involved in many activities. She loved doing ceramics and loved teaching ceramics during summer school in Fall Creek. She loved to sing in the church choir at St. James Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek and at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in Florida. She was involved with Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and supported her sons in Boy Scouts. She loved attending her grandchildren's activities in the Sun Prairie area. She loved Christmas and spending the holidays with family and friends. In retirement she spent her winters in Homosassa Florida with family and friends. She was always ready to play a game or a hand of cards.

Leonese was proceeded in death by her parents, her four brothers and their spouses: Theodore (Marjorie), Jalmer "Bud" (Darlene), Vernon (Virginia) and Daniel (Joanne) and her husband James (2011) along with other family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 2, 2025 at the Stokes, Prock and Mundt Funeral Home located at 535 South Hillcrest Parkway in Altoona. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. with a service to follow at 2:00 p.m. A private burial will take place at Trinity Cemetery in Fall Creek.

The family is currently in the process of setting up a scholarship fund in the name of James and Leonese Smith at the Fall Creek School District. In lieu of flowers, all memorials received will be put towards the scholarship fund.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.