Gilbert J. Leiker, age 84, of Hays, passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was born May 23, 1930, in Munjor, Kansas, to Paul and Ida (Befort) Leiker.
He married Gloria Brull on August 21, 1951, in Hays, Kansas.
He attended St. Francis Grade School and Munjor High School. On September 20, 1951, he was inducted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Engineers and trained as a heavy equipment operator. He served 17 months in Korea, where he built roads. He earned three Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal during his service time. Upon returning home July 23, 1953, the family lived in Hays where Gilbert worked construction and farmed.
In July 1961, he started construction on a new home and in the spring of 1962, he moved his family to the farm. He continued to farm until his retirement in January 1999, at which time Gilbert and Gloria moved to Prairie Acres in rural Hays. After retirement, he enjoyed travel, gardening, working in the yard and occasionally helping at the farm. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Lifetime 3rd degree K of C council 1492 and 4th degree K of C Bishop Cunningham Assembly, VFW, American Legion and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Sunflower Chapter.
Gilbert enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to work, instilling his work ethic in all of them. He truly loved working on the family farm, working cattle, working in the fields and watching the crops grow. He loved having his grandchildren around him, with his favorite time being when he was fixing fence. All of the boys would agree to that. Even in his final hours while visiting with his grandson, he was reminiscing about unrolling wire with Nathan to fix the fence. Grandpa will be truly missed by all who loved him.
Gilbert is survived by 3 sons, Dick (Cathy) of Richmond, Texas, Douglas (Mary) of Wichita, David (Claudia) of Hays; two daughters, Ann Leiker of Topeka and Mary (Rupert) Berrington of Aurora, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Mary Passarelli of Lakewood, Colorado;
16 grandchildren; Clayton (Pam) Leiker of Mulvane, Christin Hammond and Curtis (Paige) Leiker of Richmond, Texas, Nick and Gavin Burrell of Wichita, Amanda Swaney of Wichita, Matthew (Janice) Leiker of Brighton, Colorado, Nicholas Leiker of Lakewood, Colorado, Brandon (Andrea) Leiker, Amy Leiker, Michael Leiker, Nathan (Jenalyn) Leiker all of Hays, Alex (Chelsea) Leiker of Victoria, Jordan Leiker of Kansas City, MO, Elizabeth and Nicholas Berrington of Aurora, Colorado;
18 great-grandchildren: Haley and Brody Leiker, Hunter and Maci Leiker, Ethan and Peyton Hammond, Emily, Evan and Lillian Leiker, Ahnalyn, Rexton, Makailyn and Reylyn Leiker, Rylee and Madisyn Leiker, Austin and Madeleine Leiker, Walter and Dominic Leiker and Aiden Leiker,
and three sisters, Virginia Schmidt, Agedia Haselhorst and Pauline Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, on January 4, 2012; a son, Daniel Leiker in 2007; his parents; a brother, Norbert Leiker; infant brother, Justin Leiker; three sisters, Alexia Robben, Mary Frank, and Tillie Windholz and infant sister, Irene Leiker.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW. Visitation will be Sunday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., all at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. The Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly will provide an honor guard Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A combined 3rd and 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all Sunday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Holy Family School or St. Francis of Assisi Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Hays Daily News, 2/21/2015
He married Gloria Brull on August 21, 1951, in Hays, Kansas.
He attended St. Francis Grade School and Munjor High School. On September 20, 1951, he was inducted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Engineers and trained as a heavy equipment operator. He served 17 months in Korea, where he built roads. He earned three Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal during his service time. Upon returning home July 23, 1953, the family lived in Hays where Gilbert worked construction and farmed.
In July 1961, he started construction on a new home and in the spring of 1962, he moved his family to the farm. He continued to farm until his retirement in January 1999, at which time Gilbert and Gloria moved to Prairie Acres in rural Hays. After retirement, he enjoyed travel, gardening, working in the yard and occasionally helping at the farm. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Lifetime 3rd degree K of C council 1492 and 4th degree K of C Bishop Cunningham Assembly, VFW, American Legion and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Sunflower Chapter.
Gilbert enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to work, instilling his work ethic in all of them. He truly loved working on the family farm, working cattle, working in the fields and watching the crops grow. He loved having his grandchildren around him, with his favorite time being when he was fixing fence. All of the boys would agree to that. Even in his final hours while visiting with his grandson, he was reminiscing about unrolling wire with Nathan to fix the fence. Grandpa will be truly missed by all who loved him.
Gilbert is survived by 3 sons, Dick (Cathy) of Richmond, Texas, Douglas (Mary) of Wichita, David (Claudia) of Hays; two daughters, Ann Leiker of Topeka and Mary (Rupert) Berrington of Aurora, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Mary Passarelli of Lakewood, Colorado;
16 grandchildren; Clayton (Pam) Leiker of Mulvane, Christin Hammond and Curtis (Paige) Leiker of Richmond, Texas, Nick and Gavin Burrell of Wichita, Amanda Swaney of Wichita, Matthew (Janice) Leiker of Brighton, Colorado, Nicholas Leiker of Lakewood, Colorado, Brandon (Andrea) Leiker, Amy Leiker, Michael Leiker, Nathan (Jenalyn) Leiker all of Hays, Alex (Chelsea) Leiker of Victoria, Jordan Leiker of Kansas City, MO, Elizabeth and Nicholas Berrington of Aurora, Colorado;
18 great-grandchildren: Haley and Brody Leiker, Hunter and Maci Leiker, Ethan and Peyton Hammond, Emily, Evan and Lillian Leiker, Ahnalyn, Rexton, Makailyn and Reylyn Leiker, Rylee and Madisyn Leiker, Austin and Madeleine Leiker, Walter and Dominic Leiker and Aiden Leiker,
and three sisters, Virginia Schmidt, Agedia Haselhorst and Pauline Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, on January 4, 2012; a son, Daniel Leiker in 2007; his parents; a brother, Norbert Leiker; infant brother, Justin Leiker; three sisters, Alexia Robben, Mary Frank, and Tillie Windholz and infant sister, Irene Leiker.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW. Visitation will be Sunday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., all at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. The Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly will provide an honor guard Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A combined 3rd and 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all Sunday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Holy Family School or St. Francis of Assisi Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Hays Daily News, 2/21/2015
Gilbert J. Leiker, age 84, of Hays, passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was born May 23, 1930, in Munjor, Kansas, to Paul and Ida (Befort) Leiker.
He married Gloria Brull on August 21, 1951, in Hays, Kansas.
He attended St. Francis Grade School and Munjor High School. On September 20, 1951, he was inducted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Engineers and trained as a heavy equipment operator. He served 17 months in Korea, where he built roads. He earned three Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal during his service time. Upon returning home July 23, 1953, the family lived in Hays where Gilbert worked construction and farmed.
In July 1961, he started construction on a new home and in the spring of 1962, he moved his family to the farm. He continued to farm until his retirement in January 1999, at which time Gilbert and Gloria moved to Prairie Acres in rural Hays. After retirement, he enjoyed travel, gardening, working in the yard and occasionally helping at the farm. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Lifetime 3rd degree K of C council 1492 and 4th degree K of C Bishop Cunningham Assembly, VFW, American Legion and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Sunflower Chapter.
Gilbert enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to work, instilling his work ethic in all of them. He truly loved working on the family farm, working cattle, working in the fields and watching the crops grow. He loved having his grandchildren around him, with his favorite time being when he was fixing fence. All of the boys would agree to that. Even in his final hours while visiting with his grandson, he was reminiscing about unrolling wire with Nathan to fix the fence. Grandpa will be truly missed by all who loved him.
Gilbert is survived by 3 sons, Dick (Cathy) of Richmond, Texas, Douglas (Mary) of Wichita, David (Claudia) of Hays; two daughters, Ann Leiker of Topeka and Mary (Rupert) Berrington of Aurora, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Mary Passarelli of Lakewood, Colorado;
16 grandchildren; Clayton (Pam) Leiker of Mulvane, Christin Hammond and Curtis (Paige) Leiker of Richmond, Texas, Nick and Gavin Burrell of Wichita, Amanda Swaney of Wichita, Matthew (Janice) Leiker of Brighton, Colorado, Nicholas Leiker of Lakewood, Colorado, Brandon (Andrea) Leiker, Amy Leiker, Michael Leiker, Nathan (Jenalyn) Leiker all of Hays, Alex (Chelsea) Leiker of Victoria, Jordan Leiker of Kansas City, MO, Elizabeth and Nicholas Berrington of Aurora, Colorado;
18 great-grandchildren: Haley and Brody Leiker, Hunter and Maci Leiker, Ethan and Peyton Hammond, Emily, Evan and Lillian Leiker, Ahnalyn, Rexton, Makailyn and Reylyn Leiker, Rylee and Madisyn Leiker, Austin and Madeleine Leiker, Walter and Dominic Leiker and Aiden Leiker,
and three sisters, Virginia Schmidt, Agedia Haselhorst and Pauline Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, on January 4, 2012; a son, Daniel Leiker in 2007; his parents; a brother, Norbert Leiker; infant brother, Justin Leiker; three sisters, Alexia Robben, Mary Frank, and Tillie Windholz and infant sister, Irene Leiker.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW. Visitation will be Sunday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., all at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. The Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly will provide an honor guard Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A combined 3rd and 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all Sunday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Holy Family School or St. Francis of Assisi Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Hays Daily News, 2/21/2015
He married Gloria Brull on August 21, 1951, in Hays, Kansas.
He attended St. Francis Grade School and Munjor High School. On September 20, 1951, he was inducted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Engineers and trained as a heavy equipment operator. He served 17 months in Korea, where he built roads. He earned three Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal during his service time. Upon returning home July 23, 1953, the family lived in Hays where Gilbert worked construction and farmed.
In July 1961, he started construction on a new home and in the spring of 1962, he moved his family to the farm. He continued to farm until his retirement in January 1999, at which time Gilbert and Gloria moved to Prairie Acres in rural Hays. After retirement, he enjoyed travel, gardening, working in the yard and occasionally helping at the farm. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Lifetime 3rd degree K of C council 1492 and 4th degree K of C Bishop Cunningham Assembly, VFW, American Legion and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Sunflower Chapter.
Gilbert enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to work, instilling his work ethic in all of them. He truly loved working on the family farm, working cattle, working in the fields and watching the crops grow. He loved having his grandchildren around him, with his favorite time being when he was fixing fence. All of the boys would agree to that. Even in his final hours while visiting with his grandson, he was reminiscing about unrolling wire with Nathan to fix the fence. Grandpa will be truly missed by all who loved him.
Gilbert is survived by 3 sons, Dick (Cathy) of Richmond, Texas, Douglas (Mary) of Wichita, David (Claudia) of Hays; two daughters, Ann Leiker of Topeka and Mary (Rupert) Berrington of Aurora, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Mary Passarelli of Lakewood, Colorado;
16 grandchildren; Clayton (Pam) Leiker of Mulvane, Christin Hammond and Curtis (Paige) Leiker of Richmond, Texas, Nick and Gavin Burrell of Wichita, Amanda Swaney of Wichita, Matthew (Janice) Leiker of Brighton, Colorado, Nicholas Leiker of Lakewood, Colorado, Brandon (Andrea) Leiker, Amy Leiker, Michael Leiker, Nathan (Jenalyn) Leiker all of Hays, Alex (Chelsea) Leiker of Victoria, Jordan Leiker of Kansas City, MO, Elizabeth and Nicholas Berrington of Aurora, Colorado;
18 great-grandchildren: Haley and Brody Leiker, Hunter and Maci Leiker, Ethan and Peyton Hammond, Emily, Evan and Lillian Leiker, Ahnalyn, Rexton, Makailyn and Reylyn Leiker, Rylee and Madisyn Leiker, Austin and Madeleine Leiker, Walter and Dominic Leiker and Aiden Leiker,
and three sisters, Virginia Schmidt, Agedia Haselhorst and Pauline Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, on January 4, 2012; a son, Daniel Leiker in 2007; his parents; a brother, Norbert Leiker; infant brother, Justin Leiker; three sisters, Alexia Robben, Mary Frank, and Tillie Windholz and infant sister, Irene Leiker.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW. Visitation will be Sunday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., all at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. The Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly will provide an honor guard Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A combined 3rd and 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all Sunday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Holy Family School or St. Francis of Assisi Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Hays Daily News, 2/21/2015
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