Leonard W. Tanking, 84, of Vermillion, died on Thursday, December 15, 2016, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Leonard was born on January 23, 1932, on a farm east of Seneca to Carl F. and Mildred A. Winkler Tanking. He attended school and graduated from the 8th grade in Baileyville. As a young man he helped his father on the farm until he was the age of 16; when he went to work for Ivan Woolsoncroft in Centralia, until he was drafted by the U.S. Army.

On December 27, 1952 Leonard married Ruth C. Barnes at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.

The couple celebrated 63 years of marriage. On April 10, 1953 he was inducted in to the U.S. Army and served in the SVC Co. 22nd Inf, he also served for one year 6 months and 28 days over in Germany, to help rebuild after the war. Leonard was discharged on March 31, 1955 at the rank of Sergeant. After his service to his country, he returned home and continued to farm. In 1958, he bought a farm 7 miles south of Baileyville and farmed there until he bought his parents farm in 1974; where he lived and continued to farm until his death.

Leonard had such a love for the farm, and had one goal–to make it better than he got it for future generations. In his spare time he went to tractor pulls and raised livestock. He loved the outdoors and was always looking to make it better with his hard work. Leonard and Ruth volunteered at Life Care Center of Seneca for over 15 years with their church service.

Leonard was a member of the Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, the Knights of Columbus Council 1769 in Seneca, the Ponce De Leon Assembly #283, the American Legion Post # 0216 in Centralia, and the Upper Black Vermillion Water Shed District where he was a member for over 40 years and president for over 20 years.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Connie Remby on April 1, 2003 and Jackie Berkley on December 16, 2003; his parents, Carl Tanking on January 26, 2002 and Mildred on March 5, 2005; a brother, William Carl Tanking on January 10, 193; and a sister, Joan Boyd on February 24, 2008.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Ruth of the home; a daughter, Terry Plumberg of Seneca; a sister, Patricia Dalinghaus of Seneca; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, December 19th, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville at 10:30 am. A rosary will be prayed on Sunday at 2pm at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials are for Coins for A Cause sent in care of the family.