Gerald J. “Jerry” Van Leeuwen, age 95, passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas.
Jerry was born and raised on a farm near Walnut, Kansas and devoted his life to farming and stockmanship, a vocation he pursued with pride, integrity, and hard work. Jerry graduated from St. Paul High School in 1949. He served his country in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, stationed in Baumholder, Germany. He later attended Labette College in Parsons, Kansas.
On Oct. 22, 1955, Jerry married Dorothy Little at St. Patrick’s Church in Walnut, Kansas. Together they shared over seventy years of marriage, recently celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.
Jerry was an active and dedicated member of his community. He belonged to the Walnut Ruritan, the American Legion, and served his church as a lector, religion teacher, Eucharistic minister and marriage encounter advisor. He was also a longtime member of the Neosho County Farm Bureau, serving as its president from 1982 to 1983. Jerry and Dorothy received the Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm Award in 2003.
In 2015, Jerry was honored to travel to Washington, D.C., with the Kansas Honor Flight, accompanied by his oldest child, Linda Rice, an experience he deeply cherished. Jerry enjoyed his visits at the local coffee shops with friends and strangers alike. He will be remembered for his steadfast faith, service to others, love of the land, and devotion to his family.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy of the home, children Linda (John) Rice, Mark (Debbie) Van Leeuwen, Loretta Buchanan, Phil (Elizabeth) Van Leeuwen, Karla (Greg) LaForge, Jeri (late Brady) Stout. Ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruth (Mudd) Van Leeuwen, five brothers and five sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 23, at the former St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Walnut with Father Matthew Davied celebrating. Burial will follow in the St. Francis Cemetery in St. Paul with military honors conducted by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704 VFW. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., Thursday evening, at the church in Walnut. The family will receive friends at the parish hall following the Rosary.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Kansas Honor Flight or to the St. Patrick’s Cemetery Fund at Walnut, and these may be left in care of Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices. com.
