Leona Mary O'Regan

Leona M. O'Regan, 83, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 28th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 2:30 PM Rosary/Scripture service.

Leona Mary O'Regan was born on September 26, 1934 on the rural St. Lucas, IA, farm of her parents, Leo and Clara (Panos) Franzen. She graduated from St. Luke's High School in St. Lucas as valedictorian of her class in 1952 and went on to receive LPN training at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester, MN. On October 4, 1958, Leona married Francis James O'Regan at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon, IA. They farmed near Waucoma, IA from 1969 until 1998 when they moved to Waukon. Leona was a busy homemaker as a wife and mother to seven children but she also dedicated a lot of time to farming side by side with Francis and working as a home healthcare nurse.

Leona loved God above all else and was a very active church member. She was a former Sunday School Teacher at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma, IA, where she and Francis raised their seven children. While at St. Patrick Church she was a lector, taught CCD, and volunteered at the St. Patrick Thrift Store. She always placed others ahead of herself and was a friend to all.

Going to auctions in search of a deal, writing letters, and playing cards were some of her favorite pastimes. She enjoyed the Readers Digest and non-fiction and was an exceptional cook; her home-made bread was particularly well known among friends of Francis and the children.

Survivors include her husband Francis of Waukon; her children: Patrick (Amy) O'Regan of Decorah, IA, Michael (Wanda) O'Regan of Leland, IL, Kenneth O'Regan of Saratoga, IA, Donald (Lisa) O'Regan of Lynchburg, VA, Kathleen O'Regan of Decorah, Dean O'Regan of Waukon, and James (Lindsay) O'Regan of Hudson, IA; her grandchildren: Molly, Brian, Bridget, Darcey, Clairissa, Mitchel, Shawn, Jasonlee, Rachel, Sam, Riley, Shane, Elise, and Cael O'Regan and Nick Wilson; her siblings: Kenneth (Mary Jane) Franzen of Apple Valley, MN, and Donald (Elsa) Franzen of Haines City, FL; and a sister-in-law Alma Hemesath of Ossian, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother Stanley Franzen and his wife Wilma; and infant brothers Dennis and Norbert Franzen.

Honorary casketbearers are Leona's grandchildren. Casketbearers are Leona's six sons.