Leone P. Van Epps

PORTAGE  --   Leone P. Van Epps, age 91, of Portage, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2014 at Tivoli.

Leone was born on December 29, 1922 in Portage, the daughter of William and Mabel (Heller) Crawhall. She was a member of the Class of 1940 at Portage High School, attended Wisconsin State Teachers College, and graduated from Groves-Barnhardt Business College.  Before marriage Leone had worked in the bookkeeping department of the University of Wisconsin Hospital.  She was married on December 9, 1943 to James L. Van Epps.  He preceded her in death on October 12, 2013.  Leone was very active in the Portage community;  she was a member of The G. G.’s, Women’s Civic League, A.F.S. Mothers Club, Portage Curling Club, and Portage Country Club.  She was a member of the Portage Presbyterian Church, where she had served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Chairman of the Women’s Steering Committee.  Her interests included camping, curling, golf, bridge, knitting, sewing, craftwork, and traveling at home and abroad.  Leone was very involved with her children and their activities, including, Cub Scout Den Mother, P.T.A., and A.F.S.

She is survived by five sons, Jeffrey L. (Diane) Van Epps, Largo, Florida, Lynn F. (Nancy) Van Epps, Portage, John W. Van Epps, Portage, Lawrence A. (Kathy) Van Epps, Springfield Corners, and James L. (Joan) Van Epps II, Portage;  9 grandchildren;  12 great-grandchildren;  her sister, Billie Faye Jindra, Florida;  the first foreign exchange student to come to the Portage High School, Soren Nielson, Denmark;  her very dear friend, Nancy Schaper, Portage; other near relatives and many close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, James.

Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at Portage Presbyterian Church, 118 W. Pleasant St., with the Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Inurnment will be private at Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Portage Presbyterian Church (Stained Glass Fund), the Portage Public Library, or the American Cancer Society.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff of Tivoli, for all of their special care given to both Jim and Leone over the past three years.