Leon H. Sanders, age 81, of Columbus, died Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Ollie Fullmer officiating. A burial service will be held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery 1 mile east and 3 miles south of Hildreth, Nebraska.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00-7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and from 10:00-11:00 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus with a family prayer service at 10:45 AM. There will be a visitation on Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth.

Leon was born April 1, 1941, in Holdrege to Henry and Minnie (Quadhamer) Sanders. He was baptized at home. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Hildreth. Leon graduated from Hildreth High School in 1958. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in 1962 at Kearney State College with a major in business education. Leon completed his Master's Degree in 1966 at Colorado State College in Greeley.

June 1, 1968, he married Barbara L. Jesse at Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was confirmed. Leon was a business teacher at Litchfield Public Schools for four years and Columbus High School for four years. He taught accounting at Central Community College for 4 years and served as an Instructional Associate Dean for 32 years before retiring from the college in 2006.

During his life, Leon served as President of the Association for Career and Technical Education in Nebraska and President of the Institute of Management Accountants--Platte Valley Chapter. He served on the Trinity Church Council, served as church Treasurer, participated in Trinity Men's Ministry and sang in the men's choir and church choir.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening, traveling, music and performing arts, and swimming. Leon was very proficient in computer programs and volunteered this gift.

Leon is survived by his son Luke and his wife Joann Sanders of Lincoln; daughter Audrey, her husband Todd Page, and granddaughter Lauren Page of Greenfield, Indiana; brother Gary (Marlene) Sanders of Hildreth; four sister-in-laws: RoJean Nelson of Wilcox, Marilyn Heimsoth of Omaha, Augusta Johnsen of Wilcox, Betty Hunt (Ron) of Hildreth and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara; his parents; sister Carolyn Bauer; his father-in-law and mother-in-law August and Anna Jesse; five brother-in-laws: Carl Bauer, Gary Heimsoth, Delbert Davisson, Ward Nelson, and Dale Johnsen; his sister-in-law, Mariann Davisson; nephew Craig Bauer and niece Clarice Sharpe.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Endowment Fund (Columbus), Trinity Lutheran Church (Hildreth) or the Central Community College Foundation.

Service Folder Information
Just Inside Heaven's Door

If I should go before you,
If life on earth were through;
I'll stop just inside Heaven's door,
And there I'll wait for you.
Just cast your eyes 'cross star filled skies,
Toward the moon and then beyond;
To know my leaving could never break,
My heart's undying bond.

My love will live forever, my love will never die
If Jesus calls me home smile before you cry.
For there I will be waiting, just on the other side
With open arms, and free from harm
And no tears in my eyes

And if you go before me,
If your time on earth were through;
You know I will be close behind,
Never far from you.
Though kept apart by time and space,
It may be years before
We meet again with open arms
Just inside heaven's door.

We've no way of knowing
which one of us will stay,
Or who will go on before
To heavens glorious days
But if I go before you,
just know that there'll be more
I'll be there standing with a smile
just inside Heaven's door.

My love will live forever, my love will never die
If Jesus calls me home smile before you cry.
For there I will be waiting, just on the other side
With open arms, and free from harm
and no tears in my eyes.

James Likens



In Loving Memory

Leon Sanders

Born
Tuesday, April 1, 1941
Holdrege, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Lincoln, Nebraska

Service
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 11:00 AM
Trinity Lutheran Church
Columbus, Nebraska

Officiant
Pastor Ollie Fullmer

Music
Ann Cattau – Accompanist & Soloist
"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"
"Well Done"
"Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone"
Congregational Hymn
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

Casket Bearers
Crale Bauer
Curtis Bauer
Clark Bauer
Kevin Nelson
Kirk Nelson
Rodney Hunt

Interment
Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Thursday, July 21, 2022 1:00 PM
Pastor Caroline Keenan
Hildreth, Nebraska