Mr. Jeffrey Locke Leppert

Jeffrey Locke Leppert, 62, born November 13, 1951 in Toledo, OH; passed away December 28, 2013 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS of complications of COPD and congestive heart failure. Jeff grew up in Clarion, PA and moved to Kansas City, MO in 1968, but returned to Clarion to graduate from Clarion Area High School in 1969. After returning to Kansas City, Jeff stayed in close contact with many of his friends from that area long before the internet made it easy to do so. He was always outgoing, sometimes boisterous, and connected easily with people. As a young man Jeff was an aficionado of 60's rock culture, and enjoyed playing in a blues/rock band. He once interviewed Frank Zappa for a local underground paper. His early work experiences were varied, including a stint as keeper for Casey, Kansas City Zoo's beloved African elephant. His true talent was helping people telephonically, though, and he retired from AT&T as a long distance operator in 2008. Jeff had an encyclopedic knowledge of not only rock'n'roll, but also baseball. Once he moved to Kansas City, he was a loyal fan of the Royals and Chiefs alike, although the Pirates and Steelers also had a soft spot in his heart. He was a first-class cook, enjoyed fishing and was a dog trainer extraordinaire. A generous contributor to veterans' causes, he refused to cut his hair and beard until all US troops returned home. In his later years Jeff was less able to travel, but he maintained contact online with his friends and established close relationships with people as distant as Germany and Australia. Jeff was preceded in death by his beloved mother Helen in 2008 and is survived by his siblings Richard, Paula and Mark. A memorial service will be held at Unity Temple on the Plaza, Chas. Fillmore Chapel on Tuesday, January 7. A gathering of friends and family will begin at 6:00 pm; service will begin at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a veterans' cause would be appreciated.