Leksa, Mary

Mary Leksa of Wheaton, Ill., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, after a long illness. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sept. 3, 1923, Mary was 87 years old. She was the daughter of Glenn Mobry, a successful businessman, and Esther McClaughry, daughter of the warden of Anamosa State Prison.

Mary's family faced tragic circumstances. Her elder sister became disabled and her younger brother had Down syndrome. Mary's unswerving faith in God was an inspiration to all who knew her, and stemmed from her parents' abiding faith, steadfast love and cheerfulness in the face of overwhelming challenges. Throughout her life, people were drawn to Mary's intelligence, intellectual curiosity, personal warmth, sympathetic heart and listening ear.

Mary attended business college and worked at several companies. She subsequently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Coe College with a BA in philosophy and religion. Originally intending to work as a missionary in Africa, her plans were derailed when she met Jerome “Jerry” Leksa at Coe. They married in 1948, moving to Shellsburg, then Chicago for Jerry's final year at McCormick Seminary.

Mary was heavily involved and extremely supportive throughout Jerry's ministry, assisting with young peoples' groups, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and doing background research for his sermons at churches in Williamsburg and Iowa City. In 1964, they moved to Princeton, N.J., so that Jerry could study at Princeton Theological Seminary and Mary began a 25-year career as secretary and administrative assistant at Princeton University.

Besides working and raising two children, Mary served as vice moderator of the Board of Deacons at her church and was president of the Delaware Valley Poets Society. A published poet, Mary had numerous interests and hobbies, including music, cake decorating, calligraphy, languages, gardening and she traveled widely.

Mary and Jerry moved to the Wyndemere retirement community in 1997 where Mary continued to be actively involved in her church. She participated in a poetry group, attended classes and lectures and served for many years on the Food Committee, until illness forced her to curtail her activities.

Mary was preceded in death by Jerry in March 2008.

She is survived by her children, Janet (Stephen) Westfall of Naperville, Ill., and Bruce (Kathy) of Seattle; her grandson, David of Naperville; and niece, Renee (Frank) June and her children of Crowley, Texas.

Memorials gifts may be directed to World Vision, P.O. Box 9716, Dept. W, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716; 1-(888) 511-6443 by phone; www.worldvision.org; or to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Pkwy., Colorado Springs, CO, 80921; 1-(800) 336-7676; www.compassion.com.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at .

For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at (630) 668-0027.