John Leland Lenhart

John Leland “Duke” Lenhart, age 97, Retired Care Home owner/ Administrator, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at Veranda Senior Living in Wichita. He was born October 12, 1917 on the family farm south of Buckeye (Abilene) Kansas. Growing up on the farm during hard times with 3 brothers and 4 sisters there was plenty to do. After Graduating from Abilene High School he attended Pittsburg State University and received a degree in Vocational Art. In 1941 he married Veda whom he had met at Pittsburg State. He joined the Navy and was an air traffic controller at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station during WWII. After the war Duke and Veda raised a family and started two successful businesses, Lenhart Lumber Co., at Schulte and Liva Vista Care and Retirement Home at Goddard. For the next 20 years, Duke and Veda spent their retirement years at Grand Lake at Grove, OK in their 12 sided cabin. Duke and Veda where married 67 years. He is preceded in death by his wife Veda, a son Ronald and daughter Linda, parents Paul and Ora Lenhart, sisters Laverna Bebermeyer, Leroa McVicker, Leta Funston and brothers Leroy Lenhart, Lyle Lenhart, Loren Lenhart. Survivors: Sister Lucille Brown, daughter, Leanna Lenhart of Lake George, NY; son, Don and wife Kathy Lenhart of Wichita; grandchildren, Jacob (Tiffanie) Lenhart, Emiley (Dave) Chapman, Anna (Gordon) Murray, Clint (LaDawn) Hladik, Kristi (Brian) Lasater; great grandchildren, Drew, Ashlyn, Jedona, Jackson, Zola and Jimso Lenhart, Kaiser and Maylin Hladik, Laney Jo and Kaesey Lasater, Maddie Chapman. Funeral 1pm Saturday, November 29th at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca, Wichita. Burial will be at Attica Cemetery, Attica, Ks at 3:30pm following the funeral. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army 350 N. Market, Wichita, Ks, 67202.