Marilyn Jean Leach (Leech) was born in Gary, Indiana on February 9, 1931. She was the only child of Lillian Ruth (Lucas) Leech and Herbert A. Leech. She died on July 27, 2017. She was a long-time resident of Hobart, Indiana.

She was predeceased by her dear and loyal companions, Anne Van Beek and Olga Dotlich, and leaves her wonderful friends Denise Miller, Ron Jage, Pam Vance, Sonia Aponte, Ricky and Carlos Valquez, and their families. Marilyn loved her dogs, especially Angel 1, Angel 2, Dome, and Olga's Missy.

She graduated Wirt High School in 1949, and then attended Valparaiso University. She belonged to the A.A.U.W. and the Business and Professional Women's Association. She had a diverse, multi-faceted career. She began working in US Steel, then became a surgical technician, directed the women's and girl's programs at the Michigan City YMCA, taught psychology, sociology and physical education at Racine Lutheran and St. Catherine High School in Wisconsin, sold cars, and worked the juvenile and detective bureaus as the only woman on the Racine, Wisconsin police force. She also taught at Andrean and Emerson High School in Indiana.

In her later years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Maria Reiner Senior Center in Hobart, Indiana, participated in the grant committee of the Hobart Community Foundation, and was a proud board member of the Hobart Kiwanis.
She never said "no" if she could do it. Her father's family was musical, and she loved playing the piano and later the organ. She also loved to bake, make crafts, write calligraphy, landscape, install a ceiling, build fences and repair her car. Marilyn was one of a kind.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 31, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, 2447 Putnam St., Lake Station with Rev. Roque Meraz celebrating the Mass of Christian Burial. Visitation is Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 2pm to 6pm at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd., Hobart, (219) 942-2109 or go online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.