John Martin Frederick Leverenz, 86, of Naperville died Tuesday in his home. Born in Naperville, Mr. Leverenz was a graduate of Springbrook Elementary School. He attended North Central College for two years during the Depression. Continuing in the tradition of his father and grandfather, he farmed the family land, now a part of the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve. Later he started his own business, John Leverenz Trenching, created to help recapture flood plains and marshes for farming. His company laid miles of drainage tile for neighboring farms in DuPage and Will Counties that allowed farmers to extend their tillable land. Some of Mr. Leverenz’s early farm tools are shown as part of the sculpture in downtown Naperville on Jefferson Avenue, and others at the Thomas Clow Farmstead on the Riverview Farm Preserve. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Jean; two daughters, Sallie Lund and Jody Jon Strohm; a brother, Grant; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St. Naperville.
