Rural Wilcox resident, 83

HOLDREGE - Leland Dean Reiss, 83, of rural Wilcox died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege with the Revs. Jamie Strickler and Darrel Wissmann officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors by Martin-Horn American Legion Post 66 in conjunction with the U.S. Army Military Honors Team.

Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Thursday at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family present from 6-7:30 p.m.

He was born Dec. 12, 1929, on the family farm five miles east of Ragan in Harlan County to August and Rilla (Arehart) Reiss.

On Feb. 14, 1954, he married Beverly Gregg. She died July 28, 1978.

On Feb. 24, 1979, he married Jackie (Merritt) Colligan.

Survivors include his wife and their children, Dennis Reiss and his wife, Brenda, of rural Wilcox, Marcia Friesen and her husband, Tim, of Omaha, Marilee Aspegren and her husband, Leland, of Wilcox, Elizabeth Chappell and her husband, Clem, of Opelika, Ala., Heather Miller and her husband, Warren, of Holdrege and Shawn Colligan of Selah, Wash.; grandchildren, Christina (Reiss) Platt and her husband, Steven, Sheena (Reiss) Dallmann and her husband, Justin, Shari (Johnson) Wood and her husband, Matt, Joshua Johnson, Kristen Friesen, Samantha (Aspegren) Goetz and her husband, Tyler, Courtney Aspegren, Shelby Aspegren, McKenzie Aspegren, Lance Aspegren, Claudette Thomas and her husband, David, Michelle Chappell, Jim Pearson and his fiancée, Nicki McDonnell, Bryce Pearson and his wife, Lacey, and Weston Colligan; great-grandchildren, Heath Platt, Lily Dallmann, Quentin and Shawn Wood, Brecken Goetz, Clayton Thomas, Cody and Katelyn Poe and James Pearson; sister, Delores Konert of Wilcox; sisters-in-law, Loretta Triplett of Kearney and Elaine Warner of Arapahoe; brother-in-law, Darrell Gregg and his wife, Ruth, of Bertrand; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Leland was the youngest of three children in his family. Leland was baptized on Jan. 12, 1930, and confirmed on May 5, 1942, at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Wilcox. He received his primary education from Freewater School in Harlan County and then graduated from Wilcox High School with the class of 1947.

During his school days, Leland played the tuba. Following graduation, he continued to play and march with the band. Music was a very important part of his life, and playing several instruments came naturally to him. He also enjoyed being a member of the Sons of the Soil band and played the accordion for more than 60 years.

He interrupted his farming career when he enlisted into the U.S. Army on Sept. 20, 1951. He received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan., attained the rank of staff sergeant and served his country during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge on June 20, 1953, Leland returned home and continued his farming career.

He, Beverly and their family made their home five miles east of Ragan. While the children were young, Leland was very involved with the children's activities, and the couple were recognized as a Farm Family of the Year in Harlan County by Nebraska Farmer magazine. The family enjoyed traveling together through the years, as well. In addition to the farm, Leland became a dealer for many farm-related services, including irrigation pipe and grain bins.

When he married Jackie Colligan, her children, Elizabeth, Heather and Shawn, were blended into one loving family. Jackie supported Leland in his various business interests. In later years, Leland and Jackie traveled both domestically and abroad and enjoyed being together in their motor home.

Leland was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church. He was active on the Board of Directors of the Federal Land Bank Association and an active member for many years of the Wilcox Lions Club. Many friendship bonds were formed in business, church and social card clubs through the years.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lawrence Reiss; brothers-in-law, Leonard Konert and Duane Warner; son-in-law, Jim Pearson; and his two beloved German shepherds.

A memorial has been established in Leland's honor and will be designated later.

Visit www.nelsonbauerfh.com to send expressions of caring and kindness to the family.