Leland Joseph Ziegler, 75, of Hoxie, departed this earthly life on Monday, March 11, 2024, after a year-long battle with cancer. Leland was born on October 30, 1948, the third child of Adam and Genevieve (Heier) Ziegler. After high school at Hoxie (class of 1966), Leland received his degree in Music Education from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, in 1970, and taught music for three years. Leland married Alice Russell on May 29, 1971, in Oklahoma City.
After teaching, Leland moved his family to the family farm south of Hoxie and began farming. He and Alice were blessed with four children: Anne Marie, Laura, Ellen, and Brian.
Besides being a farmer, Leland also loved to share his musical talents with the church, and he often helped cantor for Easter Vigil Masses, leading the “Litany of the Saints” with his deep, beautiful voice. He and Alice loved to dance and could be found doing the “Jitterbug” and the polka at wedding dances and family reunions. Leland enjoyed making and fixing rosaries and was happy to fix any rosary, asking in payment, “Just say one for me.” Farming and raising cattle were his jobs, but raising his family was his life’s work. Leland was known as “funny grandpa” to some of his grandchildren, and he never failed to make the grandkids laugh. Leland and Alice ran a tight ship and had high expectations, instilling in their children a strong work ethic, and a strong, solid love of the Lord, and of our Catholic faith. Leland’s proudest accomplishments were his children and sixteen grandchildren. Leland never knew a stranger, could talk to anyone, and was happy to help anyone in need, especially through his service with the Knights of Columbus.
Leland is survived by his wife, Alice, of the home, children Sr. Mary Beata Ziegler, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, in Alton, Illinois; Laura (Randy) Schawe of Hutchinson and Luke, David, Thomas, Anne, Sarah, and Catherine; Ellen (Ed) Weiner of Hoxie and Ethan, Emma, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, and Elias; Brian (Laura) Ziegler of Overland Park and Genevieve, Andrew, Aubrey, Jacob, and Isaac. Leland is also survived by his brother, Virgil (Virginia) of Park, Kansas, and his sister, Maxine (the late Gary) Drinan of New Berlin, Wisconsin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Gary Drinan.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Friday, March 15, 2024, 10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Park, Kansas, at approximately 1:15 P.M. Visitation at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, will be Thursday, March 14, 2024, 2:00 P.M. -7:00 P.M. Family will be receiving friends from 5:30 P.M. 7:00 P.M. The Vigil and Rosary Service will immediately follow the visitation at 7:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk or the Rebecca A. Morrison House in Salina. Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas, 67740.