Kathryn Ann Leach's Obituary
Kathryn Ann Leach, 91, of Winter Garden, Fl passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025 at The Blake at Hamlin in Winter Garden, Florida. Kathryn was born December 16, 1933, to Phillipp and Kathryn Vorholzer in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Ann received her RN degree from Parkview Methodist School of Nursing in Ft. Wayne, IN in 1955, and married Leslie Clarence Leach on December 3rd of that same year.
She was dedicated to her career and thoroughly enjoyed continually learning. In fact, nursing was both her passion and her hobby, as she continued to keep up with technology changes during her retirement years. She retired as a Surgical Room Nurse Supervisor, where she was responsible for virtually all operational aspects of the outpatient surgi-center and loved every minute of it.
The nurses at The Blake at Hamlin Living Center, where Ann spent her last 30 months, grew to love her, since even as her physical strength ebbed, she was able to both counsel and encourage them in their career as well as “talk shop” with them. (She also wasn’t shy about firmly letting them know if they weren’t practicing up to her standards!) She loved her interactions with them as well as participating in various resident activities and bible study classes at the Blake.
Upon Ann’s retirement from nursing in 2001, Les and Ann relocated to Ft Myers Beach Florida, where they enjoyed taking their boat into the gulf for fishing. They were a perfect match, as Ann loved to fish whereas Les loved to get things ready to fish and cleaning the fish!! They remained in their Gulf-access “dream home” for 20 years until Les’s declining health dictated that they move closer to their daughter Annette and family in Clermont, Florida in April of 2021. Les and Ann enjoyed another 9 months of independent living together in their Clermont, FL townhome, with Les still able to safely drive until his health declined again in January 2022, ultimately ending in his passing in May, and at which time Ann entered into senior care centers. The timing of the move to Clermont proved to be a blessing, as their Ft Myers Beach home (and in fact their entire subdivision) was destroyed by 8 feet of flood surge from Hurricane Ian in 2022!!
Anyone who knew Ann knows that she loved a “good deal,” and liked nothing better than going to garage sales or resale shops to find “treasures.” Like her husband Les, Ann loved the Lord and served Him faithfully at Les’s side and continued to call and rely upon Him until her passing.
Ann is survived by her daughter, Annette Connelly and her husband, Kerry, both of Clermont, Florida, her granddaughter Haunna Connelly, of Orlando, Florida and two of her brothers, Philip Vorholzer of Indianapolis, Indiana and Roger Vorholzer of Brownwood, TX
Kathryn's family has entrusted Fort Myers Memorial Gardens with the tender care of her final arrangements. At her family's request there will be no public services.
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