VANCE E. LEININGER
1916-2012
Vance Elmore Leininger, died Thursday, December 13, 2012, at The Living Community, St. Joseph, Missouri. Vance was born on February 2, 1916, in Gordon, Sheridan County, Nebraska, the youngest son of George Samuel and Ethel (Burns) Leininger. Shortly after Vance’s birth the family relocated to Fullerton, Nance County, NE, near the family homestead in rural Sherman County. Vance attended Fullerton High School where he excelled in music, football, and all of his classes. In 1937 he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) where he belonged to Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He taught public school music in Stanton, Iowa, and on Dec. 25, 1938 married Mary Lucille Davisson of Falls City, NE. Vance was music director of the Stanton public schools, during which time he also studied for a Master of Fine Arts at the Northwestern University School of Music in Evanston, IL. They subsequently moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where Vance taught high school Latin and English as well as music. From 1942 to 1946, Vance served in the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer teaching radio electronics for the Radio Materiel School at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. After his military service, the family moved back to Nebraska where Vance earned his Bachelor of Laws degree at UNL in 1948. He joined the law firm of Walter and Albert in Columbus, NE, where his 40-year practice consisted of wills, estates, business contracts, real estate, and public power litigation. He was a member of the American College of Probate Counsel, the American Trial Lawyers Association, and President of the Platte County Bar Association. According to one of his law firm partners, he was a “lawyer’s lawyer whom one could turn to for help with especially difficult legal problems.” In the 1970s, Vance was under consideration as a candidate for justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court but decided to continue as senior partner of his law firm. Vance was President of the Columbus School Board in 1960 when the new Columbus Senior High School opened. He belonged to Rotary, Elks, and Masonic Lodge No. 323. The Leininger family belonged to the Federated Church in Columbus. In 1987 Vance and Mary moved to St. Joseph where they joined the First Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph Country Club, Moila Club, and the Benton Club. Vance was also on the Performing Arts Association Board. Vance was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Harold of Hemet, CA, Donald of Grand Island, NE, and Forrest of Beatrice, NE. He is survived by his wife and three sons (Kurt of Malvern, PA, Joel of Chapel Hill, NC, and Ralph of Dayton, OH); one niece (Linda Anderson of Montesano, WA); one nephew (D. Steven Leininger of Grand Island, NE), and four grandsons. Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Donations may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph.
Dolores A. Pike
1946-2012
Dolores A. Pike, 65, St. Joseph, Missouri died Thursday, December 20, 2012 at her residence. Dolores was born December 25, 1946 to Refugio and Vera (Wells) Hernandez. She married David E. Pike on February 7, 1970. He preceded her in death on September 15, 2004. Mrs. Pike worked for the St. Joseph School District for 10 years in the food service department and was a member of the Catholic faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers, Michael Blancarte and Rufus Hernandez. Survivors: sons, Jeffrey Pike and David A. Pike; sisters, Martha Bowlin, Rosemary Berry (John), Theresa Cox, and Ramona Ludwig (John); brothers, Raymond Blancarte (Janice) and Paul Hernendez; grandchildren, Alexis and Skyler Pike; beloved dog Max, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services: 10:00 A.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.