Harold R. 'Harry' Legleiter, Hays
Husband, father, and grandfather, Harold R. “Harry” Legleiter, entered fully into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. He was 80.
Harry was born October 12, 1942, the tenth of fourteen children to Anton and Genevieve Legleiter in Liebenthal, Kansas. He graduated in 1961 from Hays High School.
A few years later, he married the love of his life, Patricia Ann Sander on September 27, 1965, and that brought 57 years of a life filled with six children and fourteen grandchildren.
In 1968, he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army and served two years in Fort Hood, Texas.
Harry was talented and skilled in home building and changed the real estate landscape with over 100 homes in Hays. His true vocation came when the amber waves of grain and the care of livestock became his passion.
Not knowing a stranger, Harry often entertained others with his guitar and singing. His love of antiquing, competitive card playing, and making his legendary cookies and noodles became a ministry of love in his later years.
Survivors include his wife Pat of the home in Hays, five daughters, Renee Ford (Richard) of Dallas, TX, Janell Nease (Gary Hobbs) of Hays, Leah Leiker (Carl) of Thompson Station, TN, Trisha Harris (Andrew) of Hays, and Annie Erbert (Myron) of Hays, a son-in-law, Michael Nease of Hays, three brothers, Miles Legleiter (Janie) of Hays, Wally Legleiter of Hays, Dennis Legleiter (Carol Lou) of Gorham, two sisters, Patty Rohr (Gary) and Germaine Degenhardt, both of Hays, two sisters-in-law, Leota Legleiter of Great Bend and Carol Legleiter of Hays, fourteen grandchildren, David and Michael Ford, Ashley Robinson (Micquille), Kristen Nease, Samuel and Gabriel Nease, Noah, Halo, and Vienna Leiker, Viola, Stella, and Ezra Harris, Ava and Isla Erbert, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Lydia Sander, daughter, Wendy Nease, infant son, Ryan Michael, six brothers, Gerald (Betty), Wilfred (Deltha), Donald (Helen), LeeRoy, Tony, and Melvin (Sue), two sisters, Dorothy McCollum (Bill) and Virginia Kinderknecht (Don), and a sister-in-law, Betty Jane Legleiter.
A celebration of life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August, 28, 2023 at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 East 8th Street, Hays, with Pastor Brant Rice officiating, followed by lunch at the Rose Garden. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Monday, all at the Rose Garden. Private family inurnment with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will be at a later date in Mt. Allen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Harry’s memory are suggested and checks made payable to ARC of Central Plains, Cancer Council of Ellis County, or to Hospice of HaysMed.
Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Harry may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com.