John O. Leece, 86, of Omaha, NE and formerly of Essex, IA entered into rest on Tuesday morning, August 13, 2019 at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Celebration of life funeral services for John will be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 10:30 am at St. John's Lutheran Church in Essex with Pastor Ann Albert officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends with visitation and viewing from 3:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday, August 18 at Nishna Valley Funeral and Cremation Service in Shenandoah. Burial will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah with military rites provided by the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88.
Mr. Leece was born on May 1, 1933, at rural Webber, Kansas the eldest child to Elven Scheib and Juanita Verda (Briles) Leece. On June 24, 1956, John and Marilyn Ann Pedersen were united in marriage at Hardy, NE. To this union was born Barry Wayne, Lorraine (Lorri) Kaye and John Patrick (Pat). This union was later dissolved. On August 29, 1978, John married Mary Jayne (Eipperle) Stepanek, they made their home in rural Essex, Iowa. He gained four daughters with this union, Dixie, Kimberly, Diana and Stephanie. Jayne sadly passed away on December 30, 1999. Mr. Lee married Donna Earle Hansen on January 25, 2004, in Omaha at King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Jayne; and nephew, Mark Bouray. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Donna Leece, of Omaha; seven children, Barry (Pam) Leece of Syracuse, NE, Lorri (Marlin) Meyer, of Superior, NE, Pat (Carrie) Leece, of Essex, Dixie (Chuck) Gerhart, of Omaha, Kim (Tom) Wheeler, of Henderson, NV, Diana (Alec) Esquivel, of Celina, TX and Stephanie (Tony) Thiele of Missouri Valley, IA; his only sister, Kaye (Wilmer) Bouray, of Superior, NE; grandchildren, Chris Straw, of Shenandoah, IA, Taylor Dennis, of Syracuse, NE, Tuesday Straw, of Beatrice, NE, Cody Meyer, of Salina, KS, Chase (Meagan) Wheeler, of Hendersen, NV, Amanda (Jon) Carlson, of Houston, TX; Cody Wheeler, of Las Vegas, NV, Landon (Jessica) Esquivel, of Rhome, TX, Kristen (Tyson Gach) Henriksen, of Brooklyn, NY, Rachel Esquivel, of Celina, Luke Thiele, of Omaha, Hana Esquivel, of Mankato, MN, Colton Leece, of Lincoln, NE, Lexi Leece, of Syracuse, and Cade Leece, Addison Leece, Lynlee Leece, and Lincoln Leece, all of Essex; great-grandchildren, Gunnar Carlson and Caroline Carlson, both of Houston, Marshall Wheeler, of Hendersen, and Madison Dennis and Jacob Dennis, both of Syracuse; step-sons, Donald (Laurie) Hansen, of Omaha, Daniel (Janet) Hansen, of Hermosa Beach, CA, and Douglas (Sharon) Hansen, of Omaha; 14 step grandchildren; four great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and a host of friends.
