October 29, 1953 – June 1, 2021
Donald Ray Leach, 67, Cicero, passed away on June 1, 2021 while on vacation in Cortez, Colo. He was born on October 29, 1953 in Noblesville to Kenneth and Dorothea (Mosbaugh) Leach. He married Jill (Overdorf) Leach on June 29, 1974.
He was a graduate of Hamilton Heights High School with the Class of 1971. He then furthered his education at Ball State University, graduating Cum Laude in 1975. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in administration at Butler University.
Don, as he was fondly known, began to teach business classes and coach football as an assistant at Greenwood High School. He then went to Hamilton Southeastern High School as a teacher and assistant football coach for the 1979 Class A State Runner-up football team. Don was then hired as a teacher and head football coach at Tri-Central High School, followed by working as an assistant football coach at Noblesville High School. He ended his coaching career as head football coach at Westfield High School. Don was a long-time member of the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
In 1988, Don became an administrator at Hamilton Heights High School and later moved to the Middle School as assistant principal. He retired in 2012 after 24 years of service. After retirement from education, he worked part time for McGraw Hill Education as an education consultant.
He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville and served on the Indiana District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Education Committee.
He loved working and coaching young people and that became his mission in life. He also loved being at the lake with family and friends. His special joy was boating, tubing and fishing with his wife, Jill, son, John, and granddaughters, Mallory and Macy. A special day for him was hosting the annual Leach reunion at the lake with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jill (Overdorf) Leach; son, John Ryan Leach; granddaughters, Mallory and Macy Leach, both of Crawfordsville; brothers, Larry (Aloma) Leach, Lititz, Pa., and David (Beth Ann) Leach, Plainfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
His parents and a nephew, Damon Leach, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Christ Lutheran Church, 10055 E. 186th St., Noblesville, with burial to follow at Cicero Cemetery in Cicero. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday June 9, 2021, also at Christ Lutheran Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or Mesa Verde National Park, P.O. Box 8, Mesa Verde, CO, 81330, Attn. Visitor & Resource Protection, Search & Rescue Medical Operation.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel, where you may send condolences at hartleyfuneralhomes.com.