Larry Leiken

1938 - 2025

Larry passed away peacefully in his home in Tucson, Arizona, looking out at the view of the Mountains that he so cherished. He was 87 years old. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years Gail Leiken, daughters Karen Farley and Julie Leiken in Boulder, Colorado, son Jeff Leiken in San Rafael, California, Granddaughters Peyton and Skylar Leiken, Son-in-law John Farley and Daughter in Law Robyn Leiken, and his younger brother Richard Leiken who resides in the Philippines.

Larry was born to Ben and Millie Leiken in Streater, Illinois in 1938 and was raised in Eureka, Illinois. He remained a pillar of the community in Eureka until he retired and moved to Tucson in 1999. The Leiken Law Office on Main Street in Eureka was a source of support, guidance and hope for thousands of Woodford County citizens for over 5 decades. Together with his father Ben and later with his brother Dick, they built a legacy upon being ethical and providing honorable service, going over and above to help people in need. Many times Larry received phone calls late at night when his clients were in a crisis, and he always took the call.

Larry attended the University of Illinois where he was in ROTC and later earned his Law Degree. He was a member of ZBT Fraternity and maintained friendships from that time in his life for over 7 decades.

He met Gail while attending U of I and after marrying her, she followed him as a civilian to Korea while he served out his time as an Officer in the Army. They recount that time as a magical time that opened up their eyes to the world and the many needs people have.

After Korea, he passed the Bar in California and briefly lived there, but soon after Gail and Larry moved back to Illinois to start a family, settling in Peoria where they raised their three kids all of whom attended Peoria public schools. They resided in Peoria for nearly 40 years.

Larry cherished being of service in the Jewish Community and for Environmental causes. He was President of the Board at Temple Anshai Emeth in Peoria then in Tucson he was on the Boards of Jewish Child and Family Service, the Tucson JCC and Vice President of Congregation Ner Tamid.

He was also the Chairperson of the Peoria Chapter of the Sierra Club and served as legal council and Board member of The Sun Foundation, run by his dear friends Bob and Joan Ericson. He worked with Peoria's renowned environmental activist Tom Edwards on many issues, including going to Springfield to lobby lawmakers to help preserve our environment.

Larry loved the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears and the Fighting Illini. He shared many weekends traveling to Chicago and Champaign with his son Jeffrey.

He loved his hikes at Wildlife Prairie Park, golf games and lunches with his friends and in later years his morning walks around Udall Park in Tucson with his wife Gail. Above all else in the last decades of his life, he loved spending any time with his kids and Grandkids.

Family was always his priority. His greatest joy in life was being able to visit with them, go on a hike and share a nutritious meal sitting together at his dining table where he always had a seat at the head of the table.

Up until the end, Larry maintained a positive attitude, showed interest in the world and brought smiles to the people in his life, even his caregivers when he would sing Frank Sinatra with them.

Family asks that to honor his life and legacy, please go outside and take a long walk in a forest preserve that people like Larry helped create, and donate to an organization that is fighting to preserve the environment.