Leland Earl Kuch, 28 Feb 1935 - 19 Jun 2012

KUCH, NEWKIRK, HENNINGS, BRACKELSBERG, LILLESKOV

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/10/2012 at 16:21:09

Leland Earl Kuch, 77, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Amana following an extended illness. Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone. Funeral Services will commence at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 25, at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, with the Rev. Richard Osslund officiating. Interment will follow at Keystone Cemetery.

Leland was born Feb. 28, 1935, to Earl W. and Emma (Newkirk) Kuch of Van Horne. He graduated in 1953 from the Van Horne High School, where he was a member of the State Championship Baseball Team in 1952. He continued his love for baseball at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (UNI), where he graduated in 1957. Leland taught math and physical education, and coached at New Sharon High School.

On June 21, 1959, he was united in marriage to Yvonne Hennings at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone. After teaching another year, he began his farming career in the Keystone area until 2004.

Leland was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council. He also served with the Benton County Beef and Pork Producers and on the Benton Community Citizenship Committee and Benton Community Board of Education. He was a 4-H leader and a longtime official of girls’ and boys’ basketball.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne of Keystone; his children, Sharman (Alicia) Kuch of Fayetteville, N.C., Crystalinn (Phil) Brackelsberg of Edmond, Okla., Sherwin (Kristin) Kuch of Keystone and Grantlyn (Kathy) Kuch of Washington, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Carissa and Brianna Brackelsberg, Emily, Ellie, Kaeden, Wyatt and Garrett Kuch; one brother, Donald (Judy) Kuch of Van Horne; and one sister, Nadine (Donald) Lilleskov of Cedar Falls.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Alec Brackelsberg.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Published in The Gazette June 24, 2012.