Ann Ellen Leigh

Sibley, IA Ann Ellen (McAleer) Leigh, age 68 of Sibley, IA, formerly of Sioux City, IA died Friday April 10, 2015 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 18th at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City, IA, with Father Michael J. Erpelding Celebrating. Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. There will be a Rosary and Vigil Service following the visitation at 7:00 p.m.. Ann Ellen Leigh was born July 23, 1946 in Sioux City, IA, the daughter of Raymond and Alvina (Simeon) McAleer. She attended Cathedral Grade School and graduated from Heelan Catholic High School in 1964. She continued her education earning her Radiologist and X-ray Tech certification from St. Joseph's Hospital in Sioux City. Ann was united in marriage to Miles Gary Leigh on January 27, 1968 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Through the next several years Ann and Miles lived many place such as Worthington, MN, Mankato, MN, Watertown, SD, Cedar Rapids, IA, Marshfield, WI, Brooklyn Center, MN, Coon Rapids, MN, Greenwood, IN, Burnsville, MN and lastly, Sibley, IA. In Sibley Ann co-owned the Sibley Variety Store, formerly known as Ben Franklin, for 27 years. She then worked at Sanford-Sheldon Hospital as a ward secretary in the nurse's station. She was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Sibley, active in the St. Andrew's Church Choir. She enjoyed collecting recipes, watching the "Food Network", shopping and decorating. She especially enjoyed spending time going to their cabin by the lake, where she could relax on the deck commonly would say "It's Beer-thirty Somewhere". On June 25, 2014 Ann was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia (CML). She courageously battle until this past Friday, April 10, 2015, when she died at Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley at the age of 68. Ann is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Miles Gary Leigh of Sibley, IA; two daughters, Jude Leigh (special friend, Dave-o) of Austin, MN and Jeanine Leigh (special friend, Ben) of Sebastopol, CA; a grandson, James Jacobsma of Apple Valley, MN; sister, Mary Jo (husband Don) Phipps of Sioux City, IA, and their children, Brian, Kevin, Laura, Dennis and Pam; brother, Daniel (wife Carol) McAleer of Cypress, CA, and their children, Tony and Scott; sister, Loretta (husband Nick) Guthrie of Sioux City, IA, and their children, Amy, Jennifer and Michael; and many other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Alvina McAleer; father-in-law, Miles Leigh Jr.; brother-in-law, Steven Leigh; and nephew, Randy Phipps.