June Gentry Leenen was born in Hudson Chapel, Texas on June 9, 1938. She grew up in Hudson Chapel, a small community outside of Rusk, surrounded by a lot of family. She attended school in Rusk, graduating from Rusk High School. She then attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas with the intention of becoming a music teacher.

As sometimes happens, life circumstances forced her to take another route. She became a medical transcriptionist and moved to Houston. This became a fortuitous move when she and some coworkers were going to play doubles tennis at the Y. Her partner was a no-show, so she was partnered with a young man who had also moved to Houston from a small town, Kenneth Leenen. They hit it off and were married on November 14, 1964.

For a time, they remained in Houston but both being small town people, they decided to move out of the city. First, they lived in a duplex in Bellville, Texas and then they built their home in the Peters Community between Bellville and Sealy. It was there that they raised their two daughters, Vanessa and Margaret.

Music has always been central to June’s life, in her soul. She was an accomplished singer even without a classical education. She played piano and guitar as well. The desire to teach music never left her and she directed the youth choir at St. John Lutheran Church, where she was a member at that time, for many years. She also sang for Sealy’s American Bicentennial celebration and in the Austin County Civic Chorale for many years.

When her daughters started to need things like braces, she went back to work. First, she worked for Dr. Nancy W Dickey in Rosenberg as a medical transcriptionist. From there she went to Bellville General Hospital. She retired from Bellville General in the late 90s, just in time to welcome her first grandchild, Noah. In time Noah was joined by Elizabeth, Mickey, and David.

Around 2006, after Kenneth had retired and had some health issues, they moved to College Station to be closer to St. Joseph Medical Center and their daughter Margaret and family. While there, June sang in the Brazos Valley Chorale. They eventually moved to an independent living facility in San Antonio. Here June got a well-earned break from all of the household chores she so diligently carried out. She was able to make new friends and spend more time pursuing activities that she loved.

While she was in school, June had taken art classes so in addition to her love of music, she had a love of art. She took painting classes to hone her talent. She primarily enjoyed landscapes and nature, but she did create a personal painting for each of her grandchildren, according to their interests.

Sadly, June was robbed of everything except her voice by Alzheimer’s. She spent her last years in memory care at Tech Ridge Oaks in Austin, where she was closer to her other daughter, Vanessa, and her family. Although her ability to read and paint were slowly taken away, she never lost her ability to sing and delighted the other residents and her caregivers with her beautiful voice.

On November 12, 2022, her long battle with Alzheimer’s concluded and June went home to be with Jesus and Kenneth surrounded by her loving family. Our hearts are broken but we are grateful her struggle has ended.

June is survived by her daughters, Vanessa (Martin) De La Rosa and Margaret (Michael) Palm. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Noah De La Rosa, Elizabeth Palm, Mickey Palm, and David De La Rosa. She is also survived by an abundance of family and friends.

Her husband, Kenneth, went home on February 9, 2018. She was also preceded in death by her mother and grandmother who raised her, Ima Jean Gentry, and Lillie Mae McDonald. Additionally, she was preceded in death by her in-laws, Ryllis and Arnold Leenen.

Visitation was held from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M., Monday, November 21, 2022, at Schmidt Funeral Home in Bellville.

Funeral Service was held at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment followed in the Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville.

Pallbearers were David DelaRosa, Noah DelaRosa, Martin DelaRosa, John DelaRosa, Jerry Lusk, and Johnny Graham.

Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Alzheimer’s Association, Houston and Southeast Chapter, 6055 South Loop East, Houston, Texas 77087-1005.

Arrangements under the direction of Schmidt Funeral Home, Bellville, Texas 77418 – (979)865-2424 – www. schmidtfunerals.com

JUNE GENTRY LEENEN

1938- 2022