James Paul Leach, 74, Burlington, died Thursday morning, Dec. 4, 2014, at his home.
James was born on Aug. 25, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio, to James W. and Velma Maus Leach.
He grew up in Cambridge, Wis., and graduated from Cambridge High School. He went to the Nebraska School of Banking and graduated from Allen County Community College in Iola.
On May 8, 1962, he married Sharon Leigh Henson in Iola.
James worked in banking most of his life. He started at the Allen County Bank. He also worked at the Hepler State Bank, where he was president, and later at the Alfalfa County Bank, and at the Lancaster State Bank. After his retirement, he worked as a dealer at Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino, north of Topeka.
James was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, he played semi-pro hockey. He was a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church and the Elks Club in Iola, and American Legion Post No. 102 in Erie. He had been a member of the Cherokee Booster Club, the Cherokee Rotary Club, and the Cherokee Hospital Board in Cherokee, Okla.
James was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dwight Leach.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, of the home; two sons, Randy Leach and his wife, Jennifer, Mound City, and Rob Leach and his wife, Lisa, Andover; three daughters, Ricki Bober and her husband, Paul, Shelly Thorp and her husband, Mike, and Sherry Fejfar and her husband, Shane, all of Burlington; a brother, Tom Leach, Milwaukee, Wis.; 18 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Monday morning at the Burlington United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions to Coffey County Cancer Support Group or Burlington United Methodist Church may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.
James Paul Leach
