Ferron, Leone Tesch

Leone Tesch Ferron, age 97, died peacefully on Saturday, October 15, 2011, in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. A resident of Appleton, Wisconsin for nearly her entire life, Leone was born in Center, Wisconsin, on November 7, 1913, the daughter of Gustave and Minnie Tesch. Gustave was an Alderman in Appleton and had an IGA grocery store on Richmond Street. Leone studied music at Lawrence University and was chosen to play the Lawrence Chapel organ on a number of occasions. Leone was married to Harold Ferron of Appleton, on August 31, 1935. Leone taught piano at her studio in the Gabriel Building in Appleton for many years and was organist at Trinity Lutheran Church for more than 40 years beginning to play there at age 14. Harold and Leone entertained thousands with the full Harold Ferron Orchestra playing the big band sound of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington at High School proms, wedding receptions and country clubs throughout central Wisconsin in the 1940s and 1950s. Leone was also the piano accompanist for Appleton’s MacDowell Male Chorus. In addition to her excellent playing ability, Leone also composed and wrote songs. Leone played organ and piano at many local churches and funeral homes throughout her life. She continued to entertain the assisted living residents where she lived in recent years. In addition to their home in Appleton, Leone and Harold spent many summers at their cottage on Pine Lake outside Waupaca with their daughters, Judy and Jean. Leone was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Wilbert; and husband Harold, who passed away in 1997. She is survived by her two children: Judith (Richard) Dokmo, Batavia, Illinois and Waupaca, Wisconsin, and Jean (Glen) Bitter, Big Fork, Montana. She is further survived by six grandchildren, Maren Dokmo, Julie (Paul) Miller, Laura Polick, Batavia, Illinois; Craig (Lindy) Bitter, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Kristin Bitter and Scott (Julie ) Bitter, Atlanta, Georgia. Her ten great grandchildren include: Elizabeth, Sarah, Katherine and Christina Polick; Rachael and Courtney Miller; Kelsi, Jori, Morgan and Raechel Bitter. The family would like to thank the many special caregivers at Rosemore Village of Wild Rose, Care Partners of Stevens Point and Crystal House in Waupaca for their personal concern and sensitivity to Leone’s needs. Most recently Agnesian HealthCare Hospice Hope provided loving car and special help. A memorial service is being planned for a later date. A private interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Leone’s name to benefit music programs at Carthage College, Kenosha, WI 53140