Meloen, Leone C. (Wolff)

Leone Catherine (Wolff) Meloen, an easy-going and affable grandmother who loved gardening and crocheting, died at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. She was 101 years old. Leone was born in Appleton, Wis., on Sept. 26, 1910 – a decade marked by WWI, the first moving assembly lines, the sinking of the Titanic, and progressive change in American society. During the 1910s, labor unions took on an increasingly important role in the United States, yet Leone worked outside the home only from 1964-1975 as part of the office cleaning crew for the Aid Association for Lutherans, now part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. By the end of the decade, more than 1 million Model T automobiles had rolled off the assembly line, yet Leone never learned how to drive. Instead, she enjoyed walking whenever possible and relied on the kindness of family and friends to chauffer her about town. The 1910s also saw the start of Prohibition. Nevertheless, one of Leone’s lifelong pleasures was a daily glass (or two) of wine, her preference being elderberry. Her favorite color was red, which was evident in the clothes she wore and the numerous pots of red geraniums she grew each year from cuttings she took from the previous year’s bounty. On Nov. 2, 1929, Leone married Edgar A. Meloen (1901-1964) in Waukegan, Ill. Edgar was divorced and had one child from his previous marriage. The couple had met while Edgar, who worked for an Illinois construction firm, was transferred to Appleton to help build a municipal golf course. After the wedding, the couple initially resided in Chicago, but later moved back to Appleton when Edgar was hired to maintain the golf course his firm had built. After Edgar’s death, Leone had just one steady boyfriend, Frank Plach, but declined to marry him despite repeated proposals over their 20-year friendship. In her later years, Leone moved to New London, Wis., and lived in a duplex alongside her daughter and son-in-law. She valued her independence and never minded living alone, although she loved having company and could spend hours talking to friends and family on the phone. Over the years, she also enjoyed playing cards and socializing with her garden club friends. Leone is preceded in death by her parents, Peter Wolf (1870-1960) and Louisa Grode (1877-1971); step-daughter Betty E. (Matthew) Davis (1922-1987); grandsons, Richard Sanderfoot (1962-2000) and Jon Sanderfoot (1956-1972); and great-grandson Timothy Sanderfoot (1974). Leone is survived by her children, Alice (Aloysius) Sanderfoot and Sonny (Marilyn) Meloen; grandchildren, Thomas (Jean) Sanderfoot, Donald (Linda) Sanderfoot, Michael (Roseanne) Sanderfoot, Alan (Jennifer) Sanderfoot, Cathy (Kevin) Yerges, Marc (Wilma) Meloen, Melissa (Mike) McChargue, Martha (Kent) Sunderman, Sandra Coenen, Sharon Derus and Robert Derus; great-grandchildren, Natalie Taylor (Sean), Erica Sanderfoot, Matthew Sanderfoot, Theresa (Jonathan) Stevens, Carl (Nikki) Sanderfoot, Josh (Clarissa) Fradrich, Jamie Sanderfoot, Katie Sanderfoot, Olivia Sanderfoot, Ivy Leone Sanderfoot, Dale Yerges, Jonathan Yerges, Daniel Meloen, Jeffrey Meloen, and Jason Dolan; and great-great-grandchildren Thomas Sanderfoot-Maloney, Justin Taylor, Anna Stevens, and Elizabeth Sanderfoot. Visitation was held from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church (712 South Pearl St., New London, WI 54961). Mass began at 11:30 a.m., with a luncheon following. Interment was at Highland Memorial Park (3131 North Richmond St, Appleton, WI) at 2:15 p.m. Cline & Hanson Funeral Home, 209 W. Cook St., New London www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com