Leila Roden Read

LEILA RODEN READ, 83, died Sept. 30, 2005, in Fort Wayne. Born March 9, 1922, in Appleton, Wis., she was the daughter of District Attorney Nicolaus and Leona Roden. She attended St. Marys Parish, in Port Washington Wis., until 1935, at which point she went on to graduate from the prestigious St. Mary's Academy, in Prairie du Chein, Wis. She then attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where she was on the Court of Honor in her sophomore year. She was also very involved with the Marquette Marching Band, including performing on Michigan Avenue in Chicago as a Drum Majorette. A very social person, she was known on campus as "Heddi", after Heddi Lamar and Vivien Leigh. After graduating from Marquette University in 1943, she went on to the University of Southern California Graduate School of Law, following in her father's law profession. While at USC she was pledged into the National Honorary Society "Athena", chosen a "U.S.C. Beauty", was a part-time model with Vogue Magazine and sold the first $20,000 war bond at the U.S.C.-UCLA Football game participating in a $2 billion dollar war bond drive. Throughout her life, she was very involved with charitable causes, particularly in assisting Marquette University in fund raising. These efforts included hosting parties at her home, with dancing, dinner, and unforgettable nights of fun with Father John P. Raynor, of Marquette University, in attendance. But nothing mattered as much to her as being the best mother to her children as she could. "She was always a kind, generous, compassionate, loving person and is greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew her." She lived the last five years in Fort Wayne, with her daughter Sheila Kronberg and family and took particular pride in her grandchildren, passing along her passion for being of service to others, and encouraging them to follow their dreams. She loved attending Purdue University Glee Club functions to see her grandson, John, perform and was thrilled with his recent trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland as ambassadors of Purdue and the United States. She was just as thrilled with her granddaughter, Alexandria, experiencing France with her French class. She loved horses, and encouraged her granddaughter Victoria to develop her talents in equestrian pursuits into potential collegiate majors in Equine or Teaching. Survived by her sisters, Sheila Strande and Lavern Beinhorn; she is also survived by five of her six children, Pamela Read (David) Millen, William R (Tish) Read, Sheila Read (Peter) Kronberg, Brian L. (Kelly) Read and Christine Read (Paul) Grebe; grandchildren, Jacqueline Millen Lightner, David S. (Colleen) Millen Jr., John G. Kronberg III, Victoria Leila Kronberg, Alexandria Christine Kronberg, Jonathan William Read, Christine Diane Grebe, Paul John "Jack" Grebe Jr, Nicolaus Edward Grebe, and Andrew Clayton Grebe; great-grandchildren, Robert Christian Lightner, Daniel Lightner, Dominick Millen, and Serena Millen; and countless friends and extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth H. Read Sr.; her brother, Eugene Anthony Roden; and her son, James M. Read. We would like to express our appreciation to the nurses in the 5th floor burn unit at Saint Joseph's hospital, and the nurses on the 8th floor at Select Hospital, for their dedication and compassion towards our mother, Leila Roden Read. They will always be in our thoughts. Memorials to Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis. Arrangements by D.O McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road.