Jacqueline Leinbach

Jacqueline Ann Leinbach, 65, longtime Ellensburg resident, passed away on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at the Kittitas Valley Hospital. A private celebration of life will be held in the spring and Jackie will be laid to rest with her parents in Reading, PA.

Jackie was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on February 21, 1953, the youngest of five children born to Raymond S. & Margaret O. (Fegley) Leinbach. She graduated from Exeter High School in Reading and then went on to attend Bloomsburg State University in Bloomsburg, PA, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1975.

She married Gary Buch in 1976 and they lived in Ellsworth, Maine where they both worked as artists until 1978. They traveled throughout Europe for three months and then moved to Ellensburg where Gary attended Central Washington University in the graduate art department. That marriage later ended in divorce.

Jackie's first love was to be an artist. She helped to manage several art galleries, including Western Art Gallery, Community Art Gallery (now Gallery One) and was also the show coordinator for the Annual Western Art Show and Auction from 1982-86.

In 1986, Jackie changed careers and was hired by Investors Diversified Services (now Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.) as a financial advisor and stockbroker. She also married her companion seven years, Stephen S. Maeder, that same year. They chose not to have children and their marriage lasted until 1999. Ultimately, Jackie found herself most content in the company of her dogs. She was quite fond of the mastiff breed, Cane Corso. One of her favorite pastimes was to hike her property at Ellensburg Ranches with her dogs. She loved the privacy and peacefulness of her home and property and spent most of her free time there. Quite often, one of her dogs would also accompany her to the office.

Jackie is survived by her ex-husband, Steve Maeder; brother James C. Leinbach of Reading, PA; nephew Jeffrey R. Leinbach of Martinsburg, WV as well as many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, John M. Leinbach, Thoms R. Leinbach and Jean M. Leinbach. Memorial contributions in Jackie's honor are suggested to an animal rescue group or animal charity of choice. Steward & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with cremation arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.steward-williams.com