LAVERNE L. LEININGER

SHELDON- Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sheldon Christian Church for LaVerne Lewis Leininger, 89, Sheldon, who died peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, surrounded by his close family and caregivers at Truman Health Care in Lamar. Pastor Ralph Shead will officiate. Burial will be in Sheldon Cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church, beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Sheldon Christian Church.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include his wife, Helen, of the home in Sheldon; four sons, Gene Leininger and wife Eileen, Sheldon, Greg Leininger and wife Diana, Nevada, Gary Leininger and wife Valerie, DeSoto, Kan. and Geoff Leininger and wife Jackie, Lamar; grandchildren, Ashley McKinney and husband Joel, Harwood, Erin Garwood and husband Andrew, Jasper, Lauryn Leininger, Wichita Falls, Texas, Glynn Leininger, Shawnee, Kan., Jillian Podurgiel and husband Chris, Ozark, Griffen Leininger, Columbia, Mo., Deanna Bickel and husband Barry, Columbia, Mo., Lori Emery and husband Marc, Sun Prairie, Wisc., Brandon Leininger and wife Angela, Platte City, Jordan Leininger and wife Samantha, Nevada, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Jaden McKinney, Anderson McKinney, Saylor Garwood, Mally Garwood, Braden Bickel, Blair Bickel, Logan Emery, Camden Emery, Boyd Leininger, Brynn Leininger, Breanna Leininger, Makaylee Leininger, Xander Leininger and Taygan Leininger; one brother, Wayne Leininger, Jerome, Idaho and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Selma Sullivan and Arlene Nelson.

Mr. Leininger was born Jan. 1, 1930, to Lloyd and Mabel (Shaver) Leininger, at the family farm home just south of Sheldon. He was a third generation and lifelong resident of Sheldon.

Graduates of Sheldon High School, he and Helen Fowler were married Aug. 17, 1949, in Eureka Springs, Ark. Much of their lives have been dedicated to every aspect of the Sheldon Christian Church where he was a lifelong member, church elder and treasurer. One of his most rewarding duties was as the annual bible school craft coordinator. This allowed him to work with all the “fun stuff” he loved – the cement mixing, the wood cutting – whatever was required for the kids to successfully complete their craft project.

He wore many hats along the way in his long life in Sheldon. One of his “longest worn hats” was his career at Sheldon State Bank. Beginning in 1959 as a teller, he worked his way to become the bank’s vice-president. Over the years he served the City of Sheldon as mayor, city council member, Sheldon Picnic Association, Sheldon Alumni Association, school board member and president of the Cemetery Association.

The favorite hat of his life, proudly displays a St. Louis Cardinals logo. Like his father he was an avid Cardinal fan and listened to many games on radio, then watched on TV and was able to attend quite a few games in person.

His major pastime was spent as a self-taught carpenter and wood-worker. He enjoyed building and restoring furniture. He always impressed with his skill, creativity and results – on far too many projects to list here.

For many years he enjoyed league bowling at Lamar and Nevada with his buddies from Sheldon.

While he may have come up just short on the lanes, he never rolled anything but a perfect game when it came to family. His retirement in the mid 90’s allowed him even more quality family time – especially for his growing list of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He and wife Helen began something one fall that became an annual tradition that they and the successive groups of grandkids all loved. They would go to the woods to cut down that years’ Christmas tree. Weather permitting; they would have a fire and a weenie roast. Then they’d take the tree home and decorate with gingerbread and popcorn that they’d help make and string. This is but one example of what their bond strove for, and succeeded in doing, which was creating - “memories”.