Irene Isabelle Leonard

Irene Isabelle Leonard, 83, of Brainerd, MN, died Tuesday, October 27, at her home in Brainerd, with her immediate family by her side.

She was born February 27, 1943, in Brainerd to Joseph and Martha (Copa) Karnowski. She grew up in Brainerd and attended Washington High School. She married Larry Leonard on August 4, 1972, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd.

She was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and a devoted guild member. Irene worked at Potlatch and held cleaning jobs for local businesses and in friends’ private homes.

She loved sewing, making colorful spritz cookies, playing Yahtzee with her daughters, doing jigsaw and word-find puzzles, going on trips with her husband, and spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; two daughters, Lori Leonard of Brainerd and Kari Geiser (Kyle) of New York Mills; a son, Brian Leonard (Kristin) of Monticello; two sisters, Janet Guin of Brainerd and Mary Hanson of The Villages, FL; three brothers, Ronald Karnowski of Pequot Lakes, Charles Karnowski of Pillager, and Thomas Karnowski of Eden Prairie; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by four brothers: Jack, Lawrence, Joseph, and David Karnowski.

Services will be held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Brainerd on Thursday, November 12, 2026 with Father Tony Wroblewski and Father Gabriel Waweru officiating . Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial will follow.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter.