Putting Leslie's life on a piece of paper doesn't seem to do justice to the wonderful yet too short life she led. There aren't enough words in the world nor enough time to be able to express what a wonderful and amazing person my Leslie was!

Time is short and just a small moment in time. Time that once spent, we can no longer get back. Don't just plan for tomorrow, but plan for today because tomorrow isn't promised.

Leslie R. Manthei, age 62 of Freeport, IL, said her final goodbye with her family by her side on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. She was born June 28, 1958; the daughter of Royce and Janet (Fritzenmeier) Piefer. She was a 1976 graduate of Pearl City High School. Leslie married the love of her life, Kelly Manthei on December 3, 1977.

Her family and grandchildren were her favorite past time! She spent a better part of 25 years running a home day care so that she could also raise her four children with her loving husband. Memories of the countless lunches of all the kids shared around the kitchen table will never be forgotten.

Through the years she loved baking and cooking for her family and friends. Doing up huge platters of goodies for school parties or for her husband to take to work come Christmas time. Many Christmas seasons were spent baking and decorating cookies to hang on the tree and to share with the community. This love is what made her decide to open Alwayz Cookies in 2001. She was known as the "Cookie Lady"! She spent 17years creating all different kinds of cookies, shipping them all over the United States and even to troops in Iraq!

Leslie hung up her cookie hat a few years ago and decide she was going to focus on her grandchildren! She was so thankful for the time she got to spend with them each day. The love between a Grandma and her grandchildren is unbreakable and it was a glorious love to be a part of.

She could always be found with yarn and crochet hook near – making multiple blankets, scarfs and shawls over the years for her family and friends. Reading was something she loved and passed down to her children. Countless afternoons were spent on the couch reading with her children.

She took after her father in her love for black vehicles which was evident when you pulled up in her driveway. She was excited and proud when she had the spontaneous opportunity to purchase her father's corvette in 2019. Being able to take it for drives was something that she said made her feel closer to her Dad.

She is survived by her husband, Kelly Manthei of Freeport; mother, Janet Piefer of Freeport; children, Bridget (Karl) Smith of Freeport, Abby (Clay) Lutz of Rockton, IL, Elly (Seth) Franzen of Freeport, and Lincoln (Faun) Manthei of Freeport; grandchildren, Trinity, Cayden, Deacon, Saige, Aurora, and Ben; and her extended Manthei family. She was preceded in death by her father, Royce and sisters, Kellie and Martie.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, April 13 ^th at 11:00 a.m. at Walker Mortuary in Freeport with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name. Condolences may be shared with her family at www.walkermortuary.com.