Jeanette Marie Leseman

Jeanette Leseman (aka Jeanie), of Newport, MN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, April 15, 2024. She was an only child and raised by her mother, as her father passed on when she was five.

Shortly after high school, she married the love of her life, Ron Leseman. They moved from Eveleth, MN to Newport, where they purchased their first home and lived there for 17 years. In 1983, they moved to their second home, where they enjoyed gardening, working on the house and yard, and most recently enjoyed the tranquility of the new park being established along the Mississippi River.

Jeanette had various careers in her life starting with 3M. She stopped working when the their son Steven was born, and went on to take care of her mother’s needs at which time a daughter, Michele, was born. After her mother passed, she went back to the working world. She started out working as an editor at the advertising firm, El-Fresco. She then became a writer / journalist for the Washington County Bulletin. When she left there, she became employed at Cenex as an administrative assistant. After that career of 16 years, she went back to 3M as an administrative assistant, where she finished her career and retired.

Some of her hobbies included camping, gardening, geology, genealogy, astronomy, shopping, puzzles, board games and being in nature. She was a very avid reader. She loved reading about mysteries, thrillers, history, animal behavior and studying rocks and nature. She found her peace & tranquility on the North Shore, where she and Ron enjoyed many wonderful trips together in their camper. Those trips were spent with cousins that also followed the same passion. She enjoyed her scheduled cousin lunches.

 In her early years, she was a very good accordion player and enjoyed tennis, skating & bowling. She used to love to dance, play music, and have a great time with friends and family. She and Ron had some great vacations with their children and loved visiting State and National Parks.

She had a great smile, a fun-loving spirit & loved to laugh. She was a very intelligent, independent woman who loved intellectual and casual conversations, and was a great confidant and listener.

What she truly loved the most were her family, grandchildren, and friends who became family.

She was preceded in death by her mother & father, Mary & Arnold. She is survived by her loving husband Ron; their son Steven, and his three sons; Jake & his wife Alessandra, Colton, and Brice, her daughter Michele Meisner & husband Robert. She was very loved by her brothers-in-law and their wives, along with many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

The family would like to thank the Woodwinds Hospital nursing staff, physicians, chaplains and volunteers who cared for her prior to her passing. Your service does not go unrecognized. The family would also like to thank all first responders from Newport Fire Department, Cottage Grove EMS, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM, Friday, May 3, 2024 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 920 Holley Ave., St. Paul Park, MN 55071. Columbarium placement will take place after the service at St. Thomas Parish Cemetery, St. Paul Park, MN. 

For those who would like to participate in Jeanie's service via livestream, you can watch the service on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10:30 AM (CST).  It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page, and "CLICK PLAY" to begin.  Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service.  If you are having troubles with the Livestream, please accept our apologies, but the service will be available to watch later in the day.