Leo B. Tangeman, 98, of Seneca, KS, died December 20, 2009 at Life Care Center in Seneca.

He was delivered into the world by his midwife grandmother, on February 19, 1911, to Henry and Agnes Bockenstette Tangeman. He attended the Bellview Country School #56 and worked on the family farm.

Before marriage Leo worked before in Atchison for St. Patrick’s Church under Fr. Marcellus Breth, OSB. In August 1935, he returned and rented the Henry Mueller farm east of Seneca.

On April 23, 1936, he married Eulalia “Lela” Kongs at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Lela preceded him in death on May 25, 2004. The couple purchased the Charles Nolte farm in August of 1936, and moved there December 23 of that year. They farmed south of Highway 36 between Baileyville and Seneca until they retired and moved into Seneca in 1980.

Leo was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769. He was formerly a member of Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, serving on its church committee as well as the school board for the grade school. He also served on the Extension Board.

Leo was a patient, hard-working, loving, and supportive husband, father, grandfather. His life was quiet and deeply spiritual; he was gifted by God with a problem-solving mind, of understanding people and animals, and joy in family, friends, and neighbors — especially the card playing ones.

Leo loved farming, caring for the earth, and took pride in improving the land he farmed. He was fascinated with electricity, and became a skilled and respected electrician. Over decades “Sparky,” as he was sometimes called, wired numerous houses and farms in the Nemaha County area. Even in retirement, he worked on small appliances and could fix almost anything. He whistled while he worked, and in his last days, he sang songs to himself to fill the silence. He never lost interest in family, current events, the life outside his window. Even the squirrels entertained him in their play. He loved a hot pitch game, especially when he won, which he usually did!

Survivors are daughters, Jane Bergman of St. Louis, MO, Judy Glynn of Axtell, and Susan Tangeman of Corvallis, OR; a son, David Tangeman of Topeka; a brother, Wilfred of Seneca; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife Lela, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Rose Burdiek, Ethel Wickman and Johanna Wickman; and four brothers, Clarence, Albert, Lawrence and Vincent H. Tangeman.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Wednesday, December 23, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Baileyville. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday, December 22, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given for Sacred Heart Cemetery or Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, which can be sent in care of the family.