Natalie Edsall Leitch

Kendallville - Natalie Edsall Leitch, 88, of Kendallville, passed away Wednesday April 4, 2018 at the hospice unit in Parkview Randallia, in Fort Wayne.  She had been in failing health for the last year.  She was born in Gibson City, IL to Harvey and Lela (Mehrer) Shellman in October of 1929.  Her family moved to Albion, Indiana when she was nine years old.  Being one of five children, she was always helping her dad in the fields on the farm.

In 1946, she married Pierre J. Edsall and lived in Albion until 1960 when they bought a farm west of Avilla.  She spent many years working on the farm, milking cows and raising her daughters.  In 1977, Pierre and Nat sold the farm and retired to a home on Cree Lake where they spent many happy years enjoying their pontoon boat and fishing.  Her husband passed away in 1988 and she retired from Taylor Made a few years later.  Nat took many wonderful trips with friends and family.  She loved to dance and spent many Saturday nights at the Columbia City Eagles or the American Legions in Avilla and Kendallville.

In 1994, she married Gene Leitch, and together they moved to Tennessee, where they spend the next twenty years enjoying friends and neighbors in their area.  She love auctions and garage sales and was always looking for a bargain.  They spent most summers at their cabin on Bartley Lake south of Albion until Gene passed away in 2014.  Nat then moved back to Indiana to be near her children and grandchildren.  She loved to crochet, read romance novels, and collected glassware of all types.

She is survived by three daughters, Christine Pontzius, Donna (Richard) Lievense, and Marilyn (Mike) Gentis; stepson, Perry (Linda) Leitch; grandchildren, Kirk (Rohin) Pontzius, Tina (Don Jr.) Bolen, Stefanie (Rick Minnick) Pontzius, Darrell (Stacey) Lievense, Beth Lievense, Brandon Gentis, Graham Gentis, and Jess Leitch.  Also surviving are 17 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Lela Shellman, brother, Robert Shellman, sisters, Lovella Ford and Marilyn Brumbaugh, and Genevieve Leitch.  Also preceding in death were her first husband, Pierre J. Edsall and their infant son Jack, and her second husband, Eugene Leitch.

Funeral service will be 11:00am Tuesday April 10, 2018 at Harper Funeral Homes, Albion Chapel, 771 Trail Ridge Road, Albion, with visitation one hour prior.  Visitation also from 4-8pm Monday April 9, 2018 at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Sweet Cemetery, rural Albion, with her grandsons and great grandsons serving as pallbearers.  Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to St. Jude Childrens Hospital or Parkview Regional Hospice Randallia in Fort Wayne.  To leave online condolence or sign the guestbook, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com

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