Leonard H. Burdick, 91, of Sabetha, Kansas died on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the Sabetha Community Hospital.

Leonard was born on December 17, 1921 to Frank Anthony and Anna Agnes Meyer Burdiek. He attended and graduated from Kelly Grade School in Kelly, Kansas.

He married Suitberta “Berta” C. Rochel on April 28, 1943 at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly, Kansas. They lived and worked on the Ray Deaver farm southeast of Sabetha until January of 1945 when they moved to the Rochel family homestead, south of Fidelity, where they farmed the land while raising cattle and hogs. Also, known as “Doc” when helping neighbors doctor their livestock, he fondly answered to other nicknames such as “baldy” or “shorty.” A flood in 1958 found him in his car being swept away by the swollen creek on the family farm – not a good way to make the news. Leonard loved baseball, whether it be on the radio or TV all of his life. He managed the Fidelity Baseball Team for a time and took great pleasure in those duties.

After Berta passed away in 2007, Leonard moved to the Apostolic Christian Living Community apartments in 2008. On December 17, 2011, a large celebration of family and friends gathered in Fidelity, Kansas, to celebrate his 90th birthday with a grand dinner party for his delight and enjoyment. His “claim to fame” was living to see six children raised who gave him 25 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

Leonard was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Fidelity, and St. Joseph’s Society. He had served as a Church Council member and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus having attained the Ponce De Leon Assembly of the 4th Degree Knights status. For his community, he served on the board of the Delaware Water Shed and helped with his children’s 4-H projects, usually providing their beef projects.

Survivors are two sons and three daughters, Robert “Bob” Burdick and Leonard “Lenny” Burdick Jr., both of Fairview, Kansas, Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Olberding of Leavenworth, Kansas, Mary Rottinghaus of Seneca, and Lila Brown of Meridian, Idaho; brother, Edgar Burdiek of Topeka; sisters, Imelda Skoch of Axtell, Kansas, Bernice Glover of Salina, Kansas and Marjorie Steinlage of Centralia, Kansas; 22 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Anna, and his wife of 64 years, Suitberta, on September 18, 2007; daughter, Leona Shepherd on February 28, 1996; three grandsons, Capt. Andrew J. Olberding on February 22, 1996, Adam H. Burdick on April 28, 1996 and Timothy M. Burdick on May 28, 2012; and four brothers, Francis, Regis, Norbert and Wilbur.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, December 21, 2013 at St. Augustine Church in Fidelity. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Friday, December 20th at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, with family and friends visiting for one hour before and after the rosaries.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine’s Cemetery, sent in care of the family at: PO Box 128, Fairview, Kansas 66425.