Leonard J. Ponne Sr.

Leonard Ponne Obituary

Leonard J. Ponne, Sr. age 67, of DeMotte, Indiana, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on Saturday December 23, 2006. Leonard was retired from the Chicago Police Department were he served as a Detective. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7 in Chicago and the National Rifle Association. Leonard was preceded in death by his Devoted & Loving wife Collette and his brother Thomas Ponne. Leonard is survived by two sons, Leonard Ponne, Jr. of Lowell, Indiana and Thomas (Alice) Ponne of Chicago, Illinois. Two Grandsons: Nicholas and Christopher, and two sisters: Bonita (Late John) Gregolunas and Nanci (Lee) Darrow both of Chicago, Illinois. A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 28th at 7:00pm. at the Geisen Funeral Home, 7905 Broadway in Merrillville with Fr. Andrew J. Corona officiating. Friends may visit with the family at the Geisen Funeral Home from 3:00pm. until the time of service at 7:00pm. In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the American Cancer Society. www.geisenfuneral.com

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Published by SouthtownStar from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Leonard Ponne

14 Entries

Rich Gratt

December 21, 2023

Would like to find Lenny jr. I have an 8mm movie of when we were kids to show him.
Regards,
Rich Gratt

richard gratt

December 22, 2020

Hello, Richie Gratt here again. Lenny or Tom e-mail me at ([email protected]) and we can chat about the old days. Miss you two guys.

Richard Gratt

August 10, 2020

Miss the old days on the east side. Drop me an email sometime. I still have video on 8 mm of us when we were young. Richie G.

Mary Kopf

December 29, 2006

Lenny & Tommy
Just wanted to say how sorry I am. Now your mom and dad are together enjoying eternity. Mom sends her condolences also. I've know you two for so long, seems like a very long time, to stop and think I babysat for you two!!! Just know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I too, have some of those police stories of your dad, he was always on my side, thank goodness.
Love Mary (Hughes) Kopf & Family

George Hunt, Jr.

December 28, 2006

Tom and Len,

Losing a parent is a terrible thing. We all know that it will happen eventually, but it always seems to happen when you least expect it and is never easy to deal with. May your good memories of your Dad sustain you in your grief.

George
(A friend of Lee and Nanci's)

Anne & Bob Passovoy

December 28, 2006

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

eric dugan

December 27, 2006

Please accept my sincere condolences to your family. My prayers are with you and your family at this solemn time.

Nanci Ponne

December 27, 2006

I would like to share a few special memories I have of my big brother, Lenny. With nearly 20 years between us as siblings, we were a generation apart, but still had some things that connected us.

My friends know I spoke with pride of his place in Chicago history when he was the 2nd Police Officer on the scene of the Richard Speck / Nine Nurses murders in 1967. Len took the remaining survivor from the balcony. He was only on the force 6 months -- what an introduction for a mere rookie. He told my father it was the most grissly, inhuman scene he had ever witnessed in his 30 some years on the force. Len was mentioned in the book written on the massacre, but promised the survivor that he would never discuss the case with the media and never did.

I guess I owe my interest in historic crime to him.

Len spent the remainder of his police career in the gang crimes unit of the Chicago Police Force and retired as a detective.

On a personal side, there were other memories.
Len and his police partner would come to my mom's house during the 60's to have lunch. One time he handcuffed me to the doorknob; but I was so small and skinny, I easily slipped out -- much to his amused annoyance. Then he would drive me back to school for my afternoon session in his squad car and amaze -- and scare -- my classmates.

I remember a story mom told about how she had baked a number of cakes for the church bake sale and they were on the kitchen counter ready to go.
Lenny, my late brother Tom and their friends, saw the cakes and cut into every one of them and devoured most of them. (Len's appetite, especially for sweets, was lengendary.) Mom was pretty upset and the church didn't get any cakes from us, but it became a favorite family story.

I pray Lenny (and his wife Collette) rest well in God's company.

Len's little sister,
Nanci

Bonita Gregolunas

December 27, 2006

Tom and Len,
You know I'm not very good with words, but know my heart grieves with you in the loss of your Dad and my Brother, Lenny. He's with your mom now and you know how much he missed her. Keep in mind the good memories and know we will all meet again.
With my deepest sympathy,
Aunt Bonnie
(Gregolunas)

Nanci Ponne

December 27, 2006

To: Tommy and Lenny Jr.
No bond is as great as that between a parent and child. Our deepest condolences are with you and your families during this time of sorrow.

Aunt Nanci and her husband Lee Darrow