Obituary of Kathleen Kerber - Leppert

Kathleen Kerber Leppert, age 52, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after a fierce battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born on May 21,1972, in Baumholder, Germany, where her parents were stationed. Throughout her childhood and high school years, in Libertyville, IL, and then Greenville, SC, she fostered close bonds with her siblings and formed deep friendships. She attended Xavier University, where she gained more treasured friendships, and grew her love for Montessori education.

For the past 20 years, Kathleen taught early childhood education at Drummond Montessori in the Chicago Public Schools. There, she was a teacher beloved by children, parents and colleagues. Kathleen taught with wisdom, warmth and an unwavering commitment to serve each child with intention and love.

From an early age, Kathleen nurtured others—starting with dolls, siblings, neighbors, pets, the children she babysat, and then her nieces and nephews. Kathleen’s greatest dream came true with her marriage to Joe and the births of their beautiful daughters, Margaret and Sarah. She cherished being a mother and poured love into her family with every moment she had. 

Kathleen found great joy in celebrating traditions like St. Patricks Day with Irish revelry, and decorating gingerbread at Christmas, and, the highlight of the year, a lake trip, filled with laughs and adventures with the family she loved.

She is survived by her husband, Joe Leppert; her daughters Margaret and Sarah; her parents, Pete and Meg Kerber; her siblings, Kevin (Bonnie) Kerber and Julie (Jason) Leopold; and, a large extended family.

Memorial gathering will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday April 10, 2025, at the McMurrough Funeral Home, 101 Park Pl, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Funeral services will be held on April 11, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048. The funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following:

Drummond Montessori School

https://drummond.ejoinme.org/FOD

Children's 529 college fund

SARAH https://gift.my529.org/4JHEQX

MARGARET https://gift.my529.org/GRXV1M

Funeral info (847) 362-2626