Submitted by: Dan Rich
Dec. 10, 1915 - Jan. 7, 2008
South Bend Tribune 1/9/2008
MISHAWAKA- Leona Marcella Nemes, 92, formerly of Mishawaka
passed on Monday, January 7, 2008, in Millers Merry Manor,
Wakarusa, IN. On December 10, 1915, Leona was born in Mishawaka,
as the daughter of Baziel and Cyrilla (Christian) DeGeyter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Josephine Somnis;
and brother, Walter DeGeyter.
On December 2, 1939, Leona married Albert M.
Nemes and they marked their 68th wedding anniversary this past
December. Surviving Leona are her husband, Albert; daughter, Joan
(Tim) of Fort Collins, CO; four sons, Albert (Marilynn) of
Littleton, CO, Robert (Terry) of Cape Coral, FL, Ken (Carolyn) of
Mishawaka, and Kurt of Washington, DC; and; 11 grandchildren,
Danielle Cook, Karen Woodiel, Kimberly Garfield,
Spencer Cook, Michelle Guthrie, John Nemes, Katherine Robinson,
Cassie Nemes, Michael Nemes, Claire Nemes and Simone Nemes; five
great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Martha Botos,
Gabrielle Poikus and Florence Burkhart, all of
Mishawaka.
Leona Nemes lived an active life that
encompassed homemaking, community service and professional
growth. She was Cub Scout den mother for all of her sons and
helped raise money through ice cream socials for Logan School and
other charities. Leona was also active in PTA and served as
president for Kennedy Grade School and became the first PTA
president for the then new Penn High School in 1961. For her
efforts, in 1958, she was named Foremost Mother of the Year of
Penn Township. After her last child started school, she became a
cook at Elsie Rogers School. Though afraid of the water, at the
age of 40, Mrs. Nemes allowed a fellow den mother to convince her
to take swimming lessons. That started a career as lifeguard,
swimming teacher and physical fitness instructor. Certified by
the Red Cross, she gave swim lessons at Penn High School and ran
the summer youth program at Mary Gibbard Pool in Mishawaka. Hired
by the YMCA of Mishawaka, Leona became a specialist in youth
swimming instruction and various fitness programs. Mrs. Nemes
logged several thousand miles of swimming and continued to swim
several miles a week until her late eighties. Albert and Leona
also enjoyed square dancing locally and on a national level and
spent an active retirement in Tucson, Arizona for 20 years. In
2000 they returned to Mishawaka to be closer to family. The Nemes
family expresses their deep appreciation to all of the caregivers
at Millers Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
Family and friends may visit on Wednesday,
January 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. On Thursday,
a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted in St. Bavo Catholic
Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery,
Mishawaka.