Leona Horecka

Leona Horecka, age 86, a longtime resident of Faribault, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at the Cedarview Care Center in Owatonna following an extended illness.    Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault, with Bernadette Tatge, Pastoral Minister of Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault, officiating. Interment will be held at the Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.      Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday.      Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.    Leona E. Simon, the daughter of Stanley and Emily (Kaplan) Simon, was born on October 16, 1924 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Following high school, Leona worked for four years at Jostens in Owatonna. On June 17, 1947, she was united in marriage to Ralph Horecka in Owatonna. Together, Ralph and Leona owned Horecka's General Store near Fox Lake for twenty years. He later preceded her in death on June 16, 1982. Following his death, Leona worked at the Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault until her retirement. She enjoyed playing cards, gardening and visiting with family and longtime friends.     Leona is survived by her children, Dale Horecka of Eden Prairie and Gary Horecka of Colorado; her sister in law, Donna Horecka of Owatonna and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.    Leona is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph and by her brothers Cliff Simon, Clayton Simon and Lloyd Simon.