Leona F. McGirk

Leona was born December 24, 1934 in Greeley, Iowa, the daughter of George and Alice (Rowell) Beohm. Leona grew up in Greeley, Iowa, and attended Greeley Consolidated School and then moved to Dubuque, Iowa. In Dubuque she attended Nativity and then graduated from the Academy of the Visitation in 1952. She was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa Society.

After graduation, Leona worked for the Telegraph Herald where she met the love of her life, Donald McGirk. They were married September 5, 1953 in Dubuque, Iowa, at Nativity Catholic Church. Together Don and Lee moved to Rockford, Illinois, where they lived and raised their five children.

Leona was a homemaker and enjoyed tending to her wildflower garden. She adored and looked forward to the annual Beohm family reunions in Dubuque every summer where she could visit and laugh with her loving extended family. Many of her friends and family loved seeing her joy when she hosted Christmas Eve open houses and when she blew out the candles on her birthday cake. Lee was a faithful member of St Rita’s Catholic Church and later St Edward’s Catholic Church. Lee and Don enjoyed traveling the world together and spending many winters in Florida, Arizona and Texas. They made new friends wherever they went. Most of all, Leona enjoyed spending time with her family.

Leona is loved and missed by her children, Patrick (Cindy) McGirk, Michael (Dawn) McGirk, David (Lori) McGirk, Kathleen (Richard) Olson, and Daniel (Paula) McGirk; sixteen grandchildren, Sage (Karen) McGirk, John (Darrin Broadwater) McGirk, Braydyn (Nathan) Dingess, Megan (Scott) Evans, Jordan (Linda Johnson) McGirk, Tessa (Daniel) Bressler, Dale (Casandra) McGirk, Teresa (Michael) Norris, Ryan (Jenna) Olson, Brent (Moira) Olson, Zachary, Baillie, Hayden, Ryleigh McGirk, PJ and Kaitlyn Dal Pra; seven great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Emma Evans, Leia McGirk, Aidan and Max Olson, Graham Olson and David Dingess; and three on the way, Baby (R) Olson, Baby Bressler and Baby (B) Olson. She is survived by her loving cousin Sherry Ann Busch and many loving and caring nieces and nephews. Leona was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald, great-granddaughter Grace Evans, brother Merle Beohm, sisters Marjorie (Frank) Urell-Erhart, Relda (Gilbert) Philipp, and Gertrude (William) Kraus.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Highview in the Woodlands, Juliette Strombeck NP, Melissa and Northern Illinois Hospice.

A private joint service and celebration will be held for Leona and Donald.