Obituary

Georgeann Marie Ziem Leigber

Georgeann Marie Ziem Leigber passed away peacefully at her home on December 20, 2025, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 16, 1941 to Dorothy and Stanley Ziem and was affectionately known to family and friends as “Pookey” or “Pook.” She and her family, including brother Tom Ziem and sister Diane Ziem Brucato, moved to Broadview, Illinois where Georgeann attended St. Eulalia Catholic Church School and Proviso High School where she made cherished memories and lifelong friends.

At age nineteen, after attending college and then spending time as a postulant with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in Wisconsin, Georgeann met Robert James Leigber. They were married three years later at St. Eulalia Catholic Church in Broadview, Illinois on November 16, 1963, and together they raised three children: Julie Ann Leigber Barry, Gary Patrick Leigber, and Christopher Leigber. The family left Illinois to live in Seminole, Florida for seven years before relocating to Laguna Hills in 1977.

Georgeann enjoyed her years as a homemaker before working at The Broadway in the Laguna Hills Mall and then for State Farm Insurance in Laguna Niguel. In her retirement, she devoted her time to her family, her friends, and her faith.

She loved spending time with family, including her nine grandchildren: Johnny Dale Barry, Andrew Robert Barry, Lauren Ann Barry, Joseph John Barry, Ryan Robert Leigber, Amy Kay Leigber, Ross Vincent Leigber, Mitchell Christopher Leigber, and Troy Robert Leigber.

She also treasured her friendships, enjoying high school reunions, girls’ trips with childhood friends, and coffee after mass with church friends.

In addition, Georgeann was a faithful parishioner of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel which felt like a second home for her. For over twenty years, she served her parish as a Catechism teacher and Vacation Bible School counselor as well as volunteering her time visiting homebound members of the congregation and laundering the altar linens.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Stanley, as well as her beloved grandson, Johnny.

Georgeann made profound contributions to her family, her church, and her community, and she will be greatly missed.