Roger Allen Leff 1935 - 2016

LEFF, LYONS, BASTIAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2016 at 09:54:23

Sioux City Journal
10 August 2016

SIOUX CITY | Roger Allen Leff, 80, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Roger was born in Turin, Iowa, on Sept. 3, 1935, the son of Allen Weare and Leona M. (Lyons) Leff. The family moved to Sioux City when Roger was a child. He attended Sioux City Community Schools and graduated from East High School with the class of 1955.

Roger was united in marriage with Benita Rae Bastian on May 26, 1957, at Trimble United Methodist Church in Sioux City. This union was blessed with three children, Kraig, Kevin, and Karla. Roger was a member of the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960.

Following his discharge, Roger worked for a time at Barker Shoe Store. He then was employed at several different grocery stores, sold life insurance, served as the agent for the Des Moines Register in Sioux City, and finished his full-time employment with Orkin Exterminating. Roger served for the past 18 years as a part-time funeral director's assistant with Christy-Smith Funeral Homes.

He was a member of the Church of All Nations, the Scandinavian Society and served as an ombudsman for the residents of Westwood Care Center. He was a volunteer at the Senior Center, Siouxland Community Theatre, and Goodwill of Greater Plains. He enjoyed arranging flowers better known as Flowers by Roger, loved to dance, play cards, 25 years of craft shows, going to the casinos, and just visiting with people. He received the Governor's Volunteer Award in 2016.

Roger is survived by his wife of 59 years, Benita; his two sons, Kraig Leff and his wife, Beth of Sioux City, and Kevin Leff and his wife, Tammie of Sioux City; and his daughter, Karla Jalas and her husband, Brad of Granville, Iowa. He is also survived by his grandchildren; his great-grandchildren; along with many other relatives; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant sister, Barbara Lou.

Roger requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials in his name be given to his family for a charity to be designated at a later date.