JoAnn Mandy

1946 - 2025

JoAnn Mandy

November 16, 1946 - August 15, 2025

RACINE - JoAnn Mandy, 78, passed away at her home on Friday, August 15, 2025. Born in Flint, Mich. on November 16, 1946, she was the daughter of Elizabeth (Smith) and Kenneth Jewell. JoAnn was raised on her grandparent's farm in Otter Lake, Mich. before her family moved to Superior, Wis.

She graduated from Superior Central High School in 1964 before attending UW-Superior and majoring in Elementary Education with a Library Science minor. JoAnn met Peter Leonard at UWS and they were married in Superior on January 5, 1968. The two moved to Green Bay and were married until his passing in 1976. She returned to Superior and was a stay-at-home mother and full-time student working on finishing her degrees. JoAnn met Kenneth Mandy during this time and soon moved to Racine, Wisconsin. She continued raising and caring for her children, as well as working at JC Penny for many years. JoAnn and Ken wed on February 23, 1989 and soon after she completed her degrees at UW-Parkside. She was hired by the Oak Creek School district working as both an Elementary and Middle School Librarian as well as earning her Masters degree in Library Science. She retired from Oak Creek East Middle School in 2011.

Beyond her work, she was devoted to her children and especially grandchildren, spending as much time as she could creating countless memories. JoAnn was incredibly supportive of her family and was a rock to her children and others. In retirement, in addition to spending time with her family, she enjoyed traveling, knitting, reading, and spending time with her friends, especially the Friday breakfast group of fellow former teachers. JoAnn was known for her great sense of humor, her kindness, and she was well known by her friends and family for her amazing food.

JoAnn is survived by her children, Rick (Felice) Leonard of Racine, Wis.; Mike (Sarah) Leonard of Burlington, Vt.; and her grandchildren, Catherine, Nathan, Shakiera, Michael, Demetrius, Alanya, and Solen. She's further survived by sisters, Jane, Margie, Laurie and Lisa and brother, Ken. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands, Pete and Ken; brother, Bobby; sister, Jeanne; and granddaughter, Maeve.

A Memorial Service will be held at the funeral home Saturday, September 6, 2025, 3 p.m. Relatives and friends may meet prior to the service 2 to 3 p.m.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME

803 MAIN ST. RACINE, WI 53403

(262) 634-7888

Please send condolences to

www.meredithfuneralhome.com