Leonard Krogman of Baileyville, Kansas, died May 1, 2014 at Life Care Center of Seneca, surrounded by family. He would have been 96 on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

He was born the youngest of four children, to John and Mary (Olberding) Krogman. His mother died when he was six weeks old. He and his siblings were then raised by their grandparents, Frank and Agnes Olberding. Leonard attended Cottonwood School and St. Mary’s School in St. Benedict, through the eighth grade. During his youth, he helped on the family farm.

As a young man, Leonard ventured to Los Angeles, California, and lived with his aunt and uncle, Al and Rose (Olberding) Lackey. While there, he was employed at the Coca Cola Company for three years. In 1942, during World War II, he entered the U.S. Army. He was deployed from Fort MacArthur, California and was stationed overseas in Australia and the Philippines for three and a half years. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater in Australia and the Philippines with the 799th Military Police Battalion until his discharge December 30, 1945. Leonard was proud of his military service.

After the war, he returned to Kansas to farm the family homestead, west of St. Benedict. On May 4, 1949, he married Clara Deters at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Of this union, three children were born: Jimmy, Janice and Bill. Leonard loved the farm and they continued to reside there after retiring. They celebrated their 50th, 60th and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on May 4, 2014.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, where he served on the church council. He was a lifetime member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars where he served as Adjutant for 13 years and a life time member of the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, both of Seneca, Kansas. Leonard enjoyed spending time with his family, playing cards, hunting and fishing. His favorite sport was baseball. He coached youth baseball several years at St. Benedict and played on a city baseball team while in Alhambra, California. Leonard was always willing to help others and was known for his sense of humor.

Leonard entered Life Care Center on April 5, 2010, and his wife, Clara joined him there on February 19, 2013.

Survivors are his wife, Clara; a daughter, Janice (Carl) Koch of Axtell; three grandsons Jason, Kevin and Kyle Koch all of the Kansas City area; and one granddaughter, Brie Krogman of Seneca.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy at the age 3 and a son, Bill, at the age 43; a sister, Agnes Williamson; and two brothers, Louis Krogman and Lawrence Krogman.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. on Monday, May 5, 2014 at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. The burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Nemaha County Agency on Aging, and sent in care of the family.