Language
Leigh, Patronella
1928 - 2012 (83 years)
Has no ancestors and no descendants in this family tree.-
Name Leigh, Patronella Born 17 Jun 1928 Gender Female Died 11 Mar 2012 
Obituary15 Mar 2012 Appleton Post Crescent - Patranella C. Degeneffe, ("Mom"), age 83, passed away peacefully with family members beside her at Century Ridge in Chilton, WI on Sunday, March 11, 2012. Mom was a creative, compassionate, and spiritual woman who endured life's trials and tribulations with dignity and grace. Mom was born on June 17, 1928 to the late Chester and Nellie Leigh and was given the name Patranella Cathryn Leigh. She grew up on a family farm outside of Lena, WI and graduated from Lena High School in 1946 as Salutatorian of her class. She was quite proud of her high school basketball team coached by Bruce Kimball that won second place in the state basketball tournament in Madison in 1945 (Lena lost to Madison West). Mom married Thomas Degeneffe ("Dad") of Oconto, WI on July 22, 1950. They had nine children and farmed in the Oconto Lena area until 1967 when they moved to Chilton and purchased a farm in 1968. They joined St. Mary's Catholic Church in 1967 (now Good Shepherd Parish), and remained active members until their deaths. They were married for almost 56 years when Dad passed away on June 14, 2006. Mom was a member of the Calumet County Homemakers Club for over 30 years and gained many friends through Homemakers. She wrote many essays for entry into Homemakers' statewide writing contests and received various awards. Besides Dad, Mom was preceded in death by her 10 year old son: James (1951-1960), an infant daughter, Mary Ann, and all of her siblings - Arlene Pries, Eleanor Konop, Wesley Leigh, Dorothy Dembroski (surviving husband Richard "Dick" Dembroski, Oconto, WI), Chester Leigh Jr. (surviving wife Betty, Lena, WI), and John Leigh (surviving wife Carol, near Lena - her late husband John was Chairman of the Town of Oconto for over 25 years). Mom is survived by seven children: Bonita (Degeneffe) Parrott, Green Bay; Patrick (Judy) Degeneffe, Chilton; William (CJ) Degeneffe, Neenah; Edward (Terry) Degeneffe, Green Bay; Thomas Jr. (Regina) Degeneffe, New Holstein; Jeffry Degeneffe, Chilton; and John (Lynn) Degeneffe, Chilton; 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Above all, Mom was a "people person". She enjoyed the company of family, friends, neighbors, and others including door-to-door salesmen (insurance and vacuum-cleaner salesmen loved Mom); she enjoyed visiting with people, attending community and church events, and planning family and class reunions. Mom was also a faith-filled person. When resources were scarce, she would say, "God will provide." She was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church but was proud that her family was "ecumenical". An article Mom wrote years ago entitled, "My Father's Heritage" included the following: "My Dad's family became one of mixed religion. At the present time we have five Protestant ministers, and two Catholic Priests. My Dad was Protestant Irish and my Mother Catholic Irish. The reason I point this out is because we never had any conflicts because of these differences. I can truthfully say our families were "ecumenical" before we ever knew the word existed." Mom was also a literary person, and enjoyed reading, thinking, pondering, writing and rewriting. Much of her writing was historical and nostalgic (i.e. her essays "The One Room Schoolhouse" and "Who Am I") or patriotic and spiritual. She wrote an annual Christmas letter to Santa for about 30 consecutive years. We, her family members, thank the publisher of the Chilton Times Journal for printing these Christmas letters. Mom was proud of her unusual first name, Patranella, and of her Irish heritage. With help from many of her siblings and cousins and two friends from Chilton who were printers, Mr. & Mrs. Wally Widmar, Mom published a Leigh-family photo-booklet in 1974 entitled, "I Remember" and began it as follows: "A nation is made great by its people; by people who not only cultivated great land, but who also cultivated high morals and values; people who sacrificed much and displayed great courage for the unknown that lay ahead of them; people who looked to God to sustain them in times of uncertainties. We are proud to be part of these people, proud that we can trace our heritage easily to the early pioneering of our nation." About 25 years later, Mom, with the help of many family members, particularly Rev. James Hoffman and his wife, Monica of Oshkosh, WI, created and published a 223-page photo journal entitled, "The History of the Joseph Leigh Family 1851-1997". Mom dedicated the journal as follows: "I believe it is fitting and proper to dedicate this book to our ancestors. It is because of their vision and struggle that we were born in a democracy. They raised their families with pride and dignity. They instilled in us a healthy philosophy of life. They taught us good work habits, independence, and self-reliance. They engrained in us to love and serve God." The journal actually traced the Leigh family's roots from 1838 when John Leigh, father of Joseph Leigh, emigrated to America from Kildare, Ireland. John Leigh first came to Washington county, Maine, then moved to Berlin, Wisconsin in 1850 and then to Stiles, WI in 1852 where he was instrumental in forming Stiles Township and served as its Chairman for 15 years. He also helped form the local school district and, in 1875, was elected to the state legislature. John Leigh invested in timberland but much of his 3,500 acres was destroyed by the Peshtigo Fire of 1871. Mom's beloved sister, Dorothy, a schoolteacher in Oconto, WI for 37 years, wrote a wonderful poem for the photo journal entitled, "Recollections". Mom never fully came to terms with Dorothy's passing in 2006 of a sudden heart attack. Mom would want us to thank two family members for their extraordinary help over the years - sister Bonnie and brother Jeff. Their loving care of Mom and Dad over many years added immeasurably to Mom and Dad's quality of life. The rest of us in the family will always remember and appreciate what Bonnie and Jeff did for Mom and Dad. All of us extend our special thanks to Karen Doerr, Mom's hospice nurse who also visited Mom frequently before she needed hospice care (Karen also served as Dad's hospice nurse in 2006). Thank you, Karen, for caring for Mom and Dad and for being an excellent nurse and humanitarian. We also thank the staff at Century Ridge for their professional care of Mom. Finally, we thank sister-in-law, Lynn, and all of Mom's friends who provided her with "Taxi Service" to church and community events, doctors' appointments, etc. Mom never held a driver's license and greatly appreciated the rides - may God bless all of you always. Funeral service will be at 4:30 PM on Friday, March 16, 2012 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (54 E. Main St.) in Chilton with the Rev. Bob Kollath officiating. Burial will be in the Oconto Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Friday, March 16, 2012.
Online Condolences
www.wietingfuneralhome.com
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on March 15, 2012
Person ID I322623 1FamilyTree Last Modified 23 Feb 2017
Family Degeneffe, Thomas, b. 2 May 1926, Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA 
, d. 14 Jun 2006 (Age 80 years) Married 22 Jul 1950 Last Modified 26 Sep 2016 Family ID F207731 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- Patranella C. Degeneffe, ("Mom"), age 83, passed away peacefully with family members beside her at Century Ridge in Chilton, WI on Sunday, March 11, 2012. Mom was a creative, compassionate, and spiritual woman who endured life's trials and tribulations with dignity and grace. Mom was born on June 17, 1928 to the late Chester and Nellie Leigh and was given the name Patranella Cathryn Leigh. She grew up on a family farm outside of Lena, WI and graduated from Lena High School in 1946 as Salutatorian of her class. She was quite proud of her high school basketball team coached by Bruce Kimball that won second place in the state basketball tournament in Madison in 1945 (Lena lost to Madison West). Mom married Thomas Degeneffe ("Dad") of Oconto, WI on July 22, 1950. They had nine children and farmed in the Oconto Lena area until 1967 when they moved to Chilton and purchased a farm in 1968. They joined St. Mary's Catholic Church in 1967 (now Good Shepherd Parish), and remained active members until their deaths. They were married for almost 56 years when Dad passed away on June 14, 2006. Mom was a member of the Calumet County Homemakers Club for over 30 years and gained many friends through Homemakers. She wrote many essays for entry into Homemakers' statewide writing contests and received various awards. Besides Dad, Mom was preceded in death by her 10 year old son: James (1951-1960), an infant daughter, Mary Ann, and all of her siblings - Arlene Pries, Eleanor Konop, Wesley Leigh, Dorothy Dembroski (surviving husband Richard "Dick" Dembroski, Oconto, WI), Chester Leigh Jr. (surviving wife Betty, Lena, WI), and John Leigh (surviving wife Carol, near Lena - her late husband John was Chairman of the Town of Oconto for over 25 years). Mom is survived by seven children: Bonita (Degeneffe) Parrott, Green Bay; Patrick (Judy) Degeneffe, Chilton; William (CJ) Degeneffe, Neenah; Edward (Terry) Degeneffe, Green Bay; Thomas Jr. (Regina) Degeneffe, New Holstein; Jeffry Degeneffe, Chilton; and John (Lynn) Degeneffe, Chilton; 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Above all, Mom was a "people person". She enjoyed the company of family, friends, neighbors, and others including door-to-door salesmen (insurance and vacuum-cleaner salesmen loved Mom); she enjoyed visiting with people, attending community and church events, and planning family and class reunions. Mom was also a faith-filled person. When resources were scarce, she would say, "God will provide." She was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church but was proud that her family was "ecumenical". An article Mom wrote years ago entitled, "My Father's Heritage" included the following: "My Dad's family became one of mixed religion. At the present time we have five Protestant ministers, and two Catholic Priests. My Dad was Protestant Irish and my Mother Catholic Irish. The reason I point this out is because we never had any conflicts because of these differences. I can truthfully say our families were "ecumenical" before we ever knew the word existed." Mom was also a literary person, and enjoyed reading, thinking, pondering, writing and rewriting. Much of her writing was historical and nostalgic (i.e. her essays "The One Room Schoolhouse" and "Who Am I") or patriotic and spiritual. She wrote an annual Christmas letter to Santa for about 30 consecutive years. We, her family members, thank the publisher of the Chilton Times Journal for printing these Christmas letters. Mom was proud of her unusual first name, Patranella, and of her Irish heritage. With help from many of her siblings and cousins and two friends from Chilton who were printers, Mr. & Mrs. Wally Widmar, Mom published a Leigh-family photo-booklet in 1974 entitled, "I Remember" and began it as follows: "A nation is made great by its people; by people who not only cultivated great land, but who also cultivated high morals and values; people who sacrificed much and displayed great courage for the unknown that lay ahead of them; people who looked to God to sustain them in times of uncertainties. We are proud to be part of these people, proud that we can trace our heritage easily to the early pioneering of our nation." About 25 years later, Mom, with the help of many family members, particularly Rev. James Hoffman and his wife, Monica of Oshkosh, WI, created and published a 223-page photo journal entitled, "The History of the Joseph Leigh Family 1851-1997". Mom dedicated the journal as follows: "I believe it is fitting and proper to dedicate this book to our ancestors. It is because of their vision and struggle that we were born in a democracy. They raised their families with pride and dignity. They instilled in us a healthy philosophy of life. They taught us good work habits, independence, and self-reliance. They engrained in us to love and serve God." The journal actually traced the Leigh family's roots from 1838 when John Leigh, father of Joseph Leigh, emigrated to America from Kildare, Ireland. John Leigh first came to Washington county, Maine, then moved to Berlin, Wisconsin in 1850 and then to Stiles, WI in 1852 where he was instrumental in forming Stiles Township and served as its Chairman for 15 years. He also helped form the local school district and, in 1875, was elected to the state legislature. John Leigh invested in timberland but much of his 3,500 acres was destroyed by the Peshtigo Fire of 1871. Mom's beloved sister, Dorothy, a schoolteacher in Oconto, WI for 37 years, wrote a wonderful poem for the photo journal entitled, "Recollections". Mom never fully came to terms with Dorothy's passing in 2006 of a sudden heart attack. Mom would want us to thank two family members for their extraordinary help over the years - sister Bonnie and brother Jeff. Their loving care of Mom and Dad over many years added immeasurably to Mom and Dad's quality of life. The rest of us in the family will always remember and appreciate what Bonnie and Jeff did for Mom and Dad. All of us extend our special thanks to Karen Doerr, Mom's hospice nurse who also visited Mom frequently before she needed hospice care (Karen also served as Dad's hospice nurse in 2006). Thank you, Karen, for caring for Mom and Dad and for being an excellent nurse and humanitarian. We also thank the staff at Century Ridge for their professional care of Mom. Finally, we thank sister-in-law, Lynn, and all of Mom's friends who provided her with "Taxi Service" to church and community events, doctors' appointments, etc. Mom never held a driver's license and greatly appreciated the rides - may God bless all of you always. Funeral service will be at 4:30 PM on Friday, March 16, 2012 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (54 E. Main St.) in Chilton with the Rev. Bob Kollath officiating. Burial will be in the Oconto Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Friday, March 16, 2012.
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Photos Degeneffe, Patronella (Maiden Name: Leigh)
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