John C. Leach

John was born September 27th, 1932 to the late John Charles Leach and Anna Laurine Paske in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952, achieving the rank of Sergeant. In 1951, John’s rifle marksmanship team won the Minnesota State Championship.

John married his beloved wife of 60 years, Jeanne Burdash, in 1954. They remained in Minnesota until moving to California in 1985.

John enjoyed singing and playing the piano, accordion, trumpet, and most especially cards. He loved telling jokes, but often could not finish delivering them before making himself laugh. Most of all, John loved to evangelize to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

In 1989, John co-founded Regal Industries. There, John served as company President until his retirement in 2006.

In energetic retirement, John enjoyed golf, sinking numerous holes-in-one, and bowling. John was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, where he attained the top Fourth Degree of Knighthood. He regularly taught religious education classes, and co-founded the John Paul II Society of Evangelists.

John was preceded in death by his brother Charles Leach, sister Lois Celotti, brothers-in-law Mohine Bakhos and Robert Feyen, granddaughter Tina Klemenko, and great-grandson Nicholas Leach.

John is survived by his siblings Sadie Feyen, Lavonne (Donald) Kowski, Anna (William) Ahern, Joan Sheppard, and Mary Andrew, plus his brother-in-law Galliano Celotti and sister-in-law Mary Ruedy.

John is also survived by his wife, Jeanne, and their twelve children: Cheryl (Randy) Sartin, John (Ann) Leach, Barbara (Ronald) Peehl, Mark Leach, Matthew Leach, Mary Jo (Richard) Simpson, Linda (Jonathan) Kocian, Steven (Traci) Leach, Charlene (Tom) Kozar, Joseph Leach, Margaret (John) Schwab, and Monica (Lee) Lambert.

In addition, John is survived by thirty-two grandchildren: John (Amy) Klemenko, Jeffery Waltz, John (Brandi) Leach, Theresa (James) Tobako, Andy (Katie) Waltz, Joshua (Casey) Leach, Timothy Klemenko, Sarah (David) Detjen, Justin (Kari) Leach, Heidi (Zach) Boswell, Michael (Amanda) Leach, Maria Niven, Christa (Tony) Arloa, Matthew (Jennifer) Leach, Jessica (Nicholas) Bugnacki, Kaley Zick, Lucus (Ashley) Leach, Bridgette (Seth) Sade, David (Madeline) Leach, Daniel Leach, Elizabeth (Ryan) Kelly, Trevor Kozar, Dakota Leach, Nicholas Leach, Jennifer Schwab, Thomas Leach, Jami Leach, Michael Schwab, Gillian Kocian, Allison Lambert, and John Schwab.

In further addition, John is survived by forty-six great-grandchildren: Allison Arola, Caleb Arola, Kalya Arola, Kelsey Arola, Adelyn Boswell, Calvin Boswell, Isaac Boswell, Francis Bugnacki, Gabriel Bugnacki, Juliette Bugnacki, Rachel Bugnacki, Brooklyn Detjen, Hannah Hallin, Joslyn Hanna, Cody Klemenko, Dominic Klemenko, Jordan Klemenko, Olivia Klemenko, Alixandra Leach, Aubry Leach, Emily Leach, Emma Leigh Ann Leach, Emma Rose Leach, Halie Leach, Isabelle Leach, Jacob Leach, Jaxson Leach, John Leach, Joshua Leach, Kaitlyn Leach, Luke Leach, Makenzie Leach, Melissa Leach, Natalie Leach, Rachel Leach, Rebecca Leach, Ryan Leach, Sarah Leach, Samantha Murphy, Ethan Niven, Tyler Niven, Kendra Tobako, Andrew Waltz, Celestine Waltz, Tristan Waltz, and Morgan Zick.

And finally, John is survived by a great-great granddaughter, Lyla Murphy.

A visitation will be held on Monday, March 16th at Draper Mortuary, 811 North Mountain Avenue, Ontario. Immediate family may visit between 3 P.M. and 4 P.M. Everyone is invited between 4 P.M. and 8 P.M. A rosary service will be held at 6:30 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 A.M. on Tuesday, March 17th at St. Peter and St. Paul Church, 9135 Banyan Street, Alta Loma. Internment will be at 12:30 P.M. at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside. A reception will follow at St. Peter and St. Paul Church.