Wayne "Jackie" E. Leffler

Wayne “Jackie” E. Leffler of rural Americus died Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor in Emporia.  He was 93.

Jackie was born on April 18, 1931, in Bushong, Kansas the son of Lewis “Jack” William and Mildred Gibson Leffler.  He married Mary Elizabeth Eldred on October 24, 1954, at the Methodist Church in Dunlap.  She died on October 8, 2019, in Emporia.

Surviving family members include his sons, Thomas (Patricia) Leffler of Augusta, William (Cynthia) Leffler of Americus; daughters, Peggy Anderjaska of North Platte, Nebraska, and Margie (Randall) Combes of Emporia; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his wife, parents, and grandson, Cory Leffler.

Wayne began his life at Bushong and then moved to Hymer, Kansas for 1 year.  The Lefflers then moved to the Clover Cliff Ranch to work.  He would tell us how they did everything on horseback riding through the many pastures.  In 1941 they moved to their homestead west of Americus.  He was a lifetime farmer and rancher.

He was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) since 1949 and was awarded a 70 year pin, served on the tax committee, was county chairman for years, and was host for their annual meetings, Americus Grade School Board for 1 term, USD 251 School Board for two terms, Lyon County Commissioner for four terms with 7 different members, Flint Hills Regional Council, Newman Hospital Board, Lyon County Zoning Board, Farm Bureau Member, Member of the Americus Methodist Church.   He received an award from the Lyon County Conservation District for Conservation practice and served on the RDA Board.  Jackie took pride in his community by serving on their boards.  He also liked to build and weld on different projects on the farm & various community projects.  He took pride in donating some of the materials & his time in creating the original pipe frame backstop and dugouts for the ballfield at the Americus High School.

Cremation is planned with a private graveside service at Fruitland Cemetery west of Americus.  Visitation will occur from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia.  Memorial contributions to the Americus Fire Department, Hand in Hand Hospice, or the Americus United Methodist Church can be sent to Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.  You can leave online condolences at www.robertsblue.com