Edward A. Leach

Edward A. Leach
Jacksonville - Edward A. Leach, 77, of Jacksonville, Ill., died Saturday, August 16, 2025, at his home.
He was born in Jacksonville on October 16, 1947, the only son of Roena Mae Holloway and LeRoy Edward Leach. Both of his parents had many siblings, so he had a plethora of relatives in and around the area and was close to all of them, especially Mike Herrin. One of which, the late Howard Gutekunst and his wife Donna, owned Acme Electronics and had him install TV antennas when he was still in high school.
After graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1965, he began working at Anderson Clayton Foods in Jacksonville in order to fund his weekend auto racing hobby. Watching NASCAR racing became a life-long favorite pastime of his. He was also a New York Yankee fan.
He attended MacMurray college, majoring in Criminal Justice and Chemistry, and then joined the Jacksonville Police Department. Ed spent a total of 53 years in law enforcement in various locations around Illinois, beginning as a Patrol Officer, then Sergeant, Detective and Police Chief, in addition to being a Deputy Coroner in Morgan County.
Ed, always having parallel careers and many interests, was heavily involved in Jacksonville Jaycees, serving as president for a year. He also owned and operated Area Wide Ambulance Service for several years.
His career in Illinois State Government started with Secretary of State Driver Services as a Hearing Officer and culminated at Illinois Emergency Management Agency as the Deputy Chief of Operations where he retired in 2003.
Ed was quickly recruited as a consultant for D&E Technical, based in Champaign, as the Exercise Manager for the CSEPP Exercise program and retired in 2016 as the Director of the Emergency Preparedness Division. Fortunately, his wife, Dianne, was hired as his Administrative Assistant at DETech and they got to travel and work together, meeting and making friends for 10 years, all over the USA.
Ed loved working and making a difference wherever he went, in addition to love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved California, having a home in Palm Springs for several years and visiting Disneyland whenever he and Dianne could find the time. His great big, booming laugh will be fondly remembered.
Ed is survived by his wife, Dianne M. Leach; children, Beth (Jeff) Hopkins of Jacksonville, Becky (Michael) Mahoney of Alexander, Brett (Kerry) Leach of Modesto, Sara (David) Thomas of Taylorville, and Mark Alan Leach of Arizona; step-children, Keri (Paul) Vogt of Petersburg and Kevin Smothers (Kim Kyes) of Hannah City; grandchildren, Trey (Haley) Hopkins of Ashland, Delanie Hopkins of Springfield, Quinlan (Chris) DeGroot of Jacksonville, Wyatt and Ainsley Mahoney, both of Alexander, Allie Leach of Modesto, Blake Carmean and Sophia Thomas, both of Taylorville, Levi (Kaitlyn) Vogt and Shelby Vogt, both of Petersburg, and August Smothers of Hannah City; great-grandchildren, Beau Edward Hopkins of Ashland, and Charlotte and Cooper Vogt, both of Petersburg; and many cousins.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Ethan Mahoney.
A Graveside Service will be held 10 a.m., Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Jacksonville Memorial Lawn Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Morgan County Coroner's Office. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at buchanancody.com.