Leone M. Ortelle, 98, of Fort Atkinson, passed away Sept. 28, 2015, at the Black Hawk Senior Residence surrounded by her loving family.
Leone was born Dec. 16, 1915, the youngest child of George and Margaret (Boyer) Hoffman in Rome.
She was employed at The Sterlingworth Supper Club in LaGrange, in 1931, when she met Fred Ortelle. They married on June 3, 1935.
Leone’s career started at a University of Wisconsin Madison Fraternity House where she worked as a cook and she and Fred were House Parents. Later they moved to Rome, to be near her family and they started farming. She and Fred owned and operated the Rome Grade School Bus Service for 12 years and continued the farm operation. Later, Leone was employed at the Larsen Canning Company for 18 years and Palmyra-Eagle schools for 25 years, both in the position of Food Service Director.
Leone’s service organizations included Fort HealthCare Partners, General Leader of the Roving Rome 4-H Club, President of the Jefferson County 4-H Leaders Association and President of Chapter 18 Food Service Association.
She is survived by her three children, daughters, Bonnie Ault (David Wadman) and Connie (Jerry) Jansen; and a son, Ron (Tina Sukowski) Ortelle; grandchildren, Tracy (Ault) Bull, Tim (Christine) Ault, Terry (Sarah) Ault, Dawn Dempsey, Tammie Ortelle, and Greg (Jodi) Jansen; great-grandchildren, Alannah, Alexandra and Davis Bull, Olivia and Tyler Ault, Brandy and Bailey Dempsey, Justin Ortelle, Hayden and Aleece Jansen, and Gabriel and Gideon Ault; and great-great granddaughter, Penlope Dempsey.
Leone was preceded in death by her husband, Fred in 1995; son-in-law, Larry Ault; daughter-in-law, Charlene Ortelle; grandsons, Robert Bull and Bradley Ortelle; great granddaughter. Maida Ault, brothers: Harley, Paul, and Floyd Hoffman; and sisters-in-law, Ella Hoffman, and Rosella Hoffman.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday at Jansen’s Banquet Hall, 1245 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson, with Funeral Services at noon followed by a luncheon. Burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery, Rome.
The family would like to thank Dr. Donald Williams and the Black Hawk Senior Care.
The Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, is assisting the family.
