Leonard Rohleder

Leonard Rohleder, 91, Hays, died Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Via Christi Village, Hays.

He was born October 28, 1924 in Salina, Kansas the son of Conrad and Catherine (Brungardt) Rohleder, of Collyer, Kansas.  On April 24, 1951 he married Mary Ann Rome in St. Peter, Kansas.  They celebrated 65 years of marriage.  Leonard grew up in the St. Peter area, which is where he lived until he retired and moved to Hays in 1987.  He spent three years in the U.S. Army during World War II.  He was shipped to Germany where he was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.  He spent three years in the hospital before he was discharged as a Disabled Veteran.  Even with his handicap, he didn’t let that stop him from his life’s dream of being a farmer, cattleman, and dairyman.  He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Disabled Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #6984.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of Hays, four sons; Steven Rohleder and wife Linda of WaKeeney, David Rohleder and wife Susan of St. Peter, Patrick Rohleder and wife Karla of Collyer, and Michael Rohleder and wife Ella of Wheatridge, CO, three daughters; Clara Unrein and husband Joe of Great Bend, Roberta Rein of El Dorado, KS, and Tamara Poulton and husband Gary of Hutchinson, a brother; Cletus and wife EvaGene of Mesa, AZ, a sister; Genevieve “Jenny” Bellerive of Logan, a sister-in-law; Maxine Rohleder of Topeka, nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, six step grandchildren, and nine step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter Christy Ann Rohleder, two brothers; Ben and Don Rohleder, a brother-in-law Richard Bellerive, and a sister-in-law Anna Mary Rohleder.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine St.  Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard will be at 2:00 pm at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, WaKeeney.  Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 pm and on Wednesday from 9:30 am until 10:15, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:00 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:30 pm, both on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested in Leonard’s memory to CedarView Assisted Living, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left to the family at www.haysmemorial.com or via email at haysmemorialchapel@gmail.com