Robert "Bob" Dale Leas ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

Robert "Bob" Leas was not just a hard-working man, he was very sweet, social and outgoing. He enjoyed laughing and had a great sense of humor. He took great pride in having a wonderful family and was honored when he was twice elected as "King" by his peers at the Woodlands Senior Center.

In 1932, most Americans were struggling as they entered the third year of the Great Depression. Ford Motor Corp. produced the Model Y automobile, the first parking meter was developed, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and British Broadcasting Company (BBC) aired their first public television program. Families at the time, gathered around their radios to listen to the popular first airings of Little Orphan Annie and Buck Rogers of the 25th Century. On September 14, 1932, Ralph and Ruey (Slusher) Leas welcomed the birth of their son Robert Dale Leas in Wells County, Indiana.

Raised along side his four older siblings and two younger ones, Bob learned the value of hard work at a young age on his family farm. While attending Jefferson Township School in the southern part of Wells County, he played on the basketball team. He went on to graduate with the Class of 1951. Feeling the need to serve his country, Bob served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Once he returned home, he worked for Standard Oil.

On a routine route in Van Buren, Bob was making a delivery to a home when one of Irene Whiteman's children convinced him to come in and meet his mother. After the introduction, life changed for Bob and the two would be married on November 13, 1959 in Kankakee, Illinois. He, Irene and the children, Skip, Sam, Doug and Linda would welcome two more editions into their hearts and home with the births of Tammie and Robyn.

After living in a few towns in northern Indiana, they moved to Columbia City in 1965. Bob had worked for Holsum Bakery and retired in 1982. A few years after, he went back to work for INDOT from 1986-1994. In his retirement years, he was a Past Commander with the American Legion, Post 98 in Columbia City and a member of the VFW in Montpelier. He also stayed active at the Woodlands Senior Center and always enjoyed playing cards with his friends; his favorite game of cards being euchre. Bob also loved gardening and tending to his tomato plants.

After battling heart complications for over 35 years, Robert Dale Leas, 87, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away at 2:38 a.m. Sunday, November 24, 2019 at Ashton Creek Health & Rehab. Survivors include his daughters, Tammie (Scott) Kessler and Robyn (Jeff) Coverstone, both of Columbia City; stepsons, Skip Speece of Iowa, Sam Speece of North Carolina and Doug Cowdin of Columbia City; step-daughter, Linda Paulus of Columbia City; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and his cat, Wiley. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; four brothers; two sisters; and two great-grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Funeral Celebrant Sharon Brockhaus officiating. Military honors will be rendered by the Whitley County Korean War Veteran's Honor Guard. He will be laid to rest beside his wife at South Park Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in his memory to Woodlands Senior Center. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send his family condolences online.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Military: U.S. Army, 1951, Korea.

Robert married Irene Whitman on 13 Nov 1959 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. (Irene Whitman was born on 14 Jan 1920 in Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan, USA ⁴ and died on 2 Jan 1996 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, USA.)