Irene Leiker

Irene (Rupp) Leiker, 93, died February 24, 2010 at Hays Good Samaritan Center. She was born February 6, 1917 in Hays, Kansas, to Joseph H. and Sophia (Pfannenstiel) Rupp, from a family of 15 children. She married Clarence M. Leiker on January 2, 1958. He preceded her in death on January 1, 1994.She graduated from Sacred Heart High School, Wichita, KS, from Alverna Music College, Milwaukee, WS., and Master graduate work from Fort Hays State University.Most of her 42 year teaching career was in Kansas. Her last 20 years were in Hays at Jefferson School, retiring in 1979. She was awarded "1974 Outstanding Elementary Classroom and Music Teacher Of America". She arranged and directed the music for the 1976 Bi-Centennial pageants "Singerbund Chorus" and directed this chorus until 1993. She organized the "AHSGR Sunflower Chapter" in 1979 and was it's first president. She had memberships in Daughters of Isabella, life member of Ladies V.F.W. Auxiliary and Ladies American Legion, Christian Mothers of Munjor, Secular Franciscan Order, Associate of Sisters of the Precious Blood and Legion of Mary. She was a church organist since 1933. She was the organist and choir director at St. Francis Church, Munjor from 1957 to 1999. She is survived by five sisters, twin Sandra Moore, Wichita, Lucille Rupp and husband Bob Shanahan, Hays, Pauline and husband Mark Weigel, Hays, Zita and husband Bob Zimmerman, Cathy and husband Jack Geyer all of Canon City, CO, and one brother Mark Rupp and wife Pat, Wichita.She was preceded in death by four brothers, Virgil, Henry "Hank", Harry and Severin and three sisters, Alice Herrman, Mary Werth and Anne Cox.











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