Leda “Nana” (Graves) Thacker, April 24, 1932 - March 18, 2024 (91), passed away peacefully at Serenity Villa at Fairview Haven in Fairbury, IL.
The daughter of William Harley and Suzie Graves, Leda was born in southern Ohio into a family of 11 siblings; Bill, Leathie, Mary, Arnold, Pansy, Harley (Jr.), Elba (Shorty), Pearl, Betty and Ovid. Only Ovid (Mary) survive, splitting their time between Colorado Springs and Yuma, AZ. She married Paul Thacker (deceased) and together had one son, Bill (Janis) of Chenoa.
Leda moved to Chenoa with her life partner “Papa” Dick Jennings (deceased) after retiring from General Motors in Columbus, Ohio in 1999 to be closer to her grandchildren. The loves of her life were her two grandchildren Jacob (Shelly) Thacker and Jessica (Josh Fisher). Jacob is and accountant living in Boisie, ID, Jessica is a pilot living in Garwood, NJ. Jessica was able to introduce her three-month-old baby great-granddaughter, Evaline Adair, to Leda at Serenity before her passing.
Though her remaining biological family was small, the family she chose, her friends, were numerous. They came from far and wide. From Illinois, California, Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio, even as far as Nottingham England. She was the senior member and matriarch of an ad hoc group of aviators the MetroWarbirds, MWB. She loved her church and was a regular attendee of St Paul, Lutheran, Chenoa. She especially loved her long-time friend Kathy Trachsel. Leda served with Kathy at His Kids Preschool at St. Paul for 10 years providing love and hugs to every one of His Kids.
She loved to reminisce with the residents and staff at Serenity about her early days. One could often hear her singing lullabies to baby Evaline while sitting by her window watching the birds at her feeder outside. In the early 1950’s before having Bill, she and Paul rode Harley Davidson motorcycles all over the country. That adventurous spirit didn’t fade away after Bill was born. She took up go-cart racing and won the Ohio State Women’s carting championship in 1963.
Bill proudly displays her trophy at his home in rural Chenoa. She was a self-made strong-willed woman in era when that was not the norm and began flipping houses before it became vogue. Later in life she and Dick would spend time with Ovid and Mary on RV and snowmobiling trips in the mountains of Colorado and beyond. They loved their adventures.
Leda was well loved and will be missed by many. A private celebration of life will be scheduled in the future. Memorials may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chenoa, IL.
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