Martha Mae Leopold

It is with heavy hearts and much love that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Martha Mae (Liggett-Kirsch) Leopold, who passed away at her home on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at the age of 77.

Martha was born on April 25, 1947 to Virginia (Paul) Hill in Danville, IL. As she grew up, she found a love for music by being an organist, pianist, vocalist, & volunteered regularly at her church. Those talents carried into her high school years at Danville High School where she graduated in 1965. 

On August 1, 1965, she married Robert Kirsch in Danville, IL. After marrying, they moved to Chicago, IL, later to Hanover Park, IL, and finally settled their family in McHenry, IL in 1981. The couple had 2 daughters while living in Chicago and Hanover Park.

Martha started working again once in McHenry and continued her college education in office technology at McHenry County College. This education furthered her career as an office manager at Wauconda Tool in Algonquin, IL from which she eventually retired.

After the loss of Robert in 1993, she met & married Reinhold “Ron” Leopold on July 25, 1998 at Shepherd of the Hills Church in McHenry, IL. They enjoyed many things together such as camping, fishing, traveling, gardening, painting, and spending time with their [then] 3 grandchildren. They resided in a few places within McHenry County, but Woodstock was where they settled.

She had many talents such as sewing, cross stitching and painting. However, one thing she was most loved for was her baking. She loved to bake! Whether it was cookies, cakes, or her infamous onion pie, she shared them whenever possible. Her baking was so delicious that she made wedding & other special occasion cakes for her daughter’s wedding in 1990; her granddaughter in 2023; and her beloved in-laws, Michael and Elisabeth, for their 50th wedding anniversary. The anniversary cake was extra special because they never had such a celebration while they lived in Europe. She was the baker of the family, & it will surely be missed at all the family gatherings. She certainly made life sweeter.

Martha is survived by her loving husband, Reinhold “Ron” Leopold of Woodstock, IL; daughters Lisa (Christopher) Welch of McHenry, IL and Michele Kirsch of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren Jereme (Lauren) Welch of Muskego, WI, Samantha (Gregory) Nelson of Brooklyn, NY, and Robert (Lindsey) Hess of Genoa City, WI; and great-grandchildren Marianne, Lucas, Caroline, and Annelise Welch of Muskego, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia (Gossett-Liggett) Hill and Paul Hill Sr, and her in-laws, Michael and Elisabeth Leopold.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 10 AM until the funeral service at 11 AM at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Rte. 176), Crystal Lake, IL 60014. Burial to follow service at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org