Leland Sharpe

Leland Sharpe, 73, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Bramlage Transition House in Manhattan, Kansas from complications of a stroke he suffered on June 24, 2013.
Lee was born March 1, 1940 in Clyde, Kansas to parents George and Lena (Goering) Sharpe. Leland was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church of Clyde, Kansas. He graduated from Clyde High School in 1958. He was active in all sports and music as well. Lee attended Kansas Wesleyan College for one year and played varsity basketball. He transferred to Kansas State College in the fall of 1959 and majored in education. He was a proud member of the Kansas State Marching Band. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1962 and then a Master of Science in 1975. Lee was a lifetime member of the KSU Alumni Association and a member of the Ahearn Foundation.
Lee student taught in the spring of 1962 at Fort Riley Elementary and was one of the last teachers hired personally by Superintendent Harold Deever. Lee's plan was to teach two years in the district and then move. But he found he enjoyed being a part of the Geary County School District and continued to teach fifth grade for 17 years at Fort Riley Elementary and one year at Junction City Junior High teaching math. In the fall of 1980 he entered the world of school administration. He was a principle of Milford/Grandview, Custer Hill Elementary, Ware Elementary, and Fort Riley Middle School. Lee retired in 1999. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of Education, served as the local president in 1971-1972, and served on the UniServe Board of Directors for seven years.
When Lee retired he was asked to coordinate the instructional technology program. Three years later Leland was asked to organize the Geary Community Schools Foundation and to serve as its president. He held that position for the next four years. He continued to serve on the Board of Trustees and was asked to serve as Chairman of the Board in spring of 2013. Leland was a member of the Junction City Retired School Personnel Association for fourteen years. He served as the treasurer for over ten years. Both organizations allowed Lee to fulfill his dreams of helping students further their education. He played a major role in the selection of the recipients and delighted in awarding the scholarships.
Leland married Sharon Boehme June 1, 1978 in Caldwell, TX. This past June they celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Retirement gave the couple time to travel. They traveled from Maine to Hawaii, took several cruises and a European tour in the last eight years. Lee was an avid card player and was a member of three bridge groups. Sharon's retirement gift to Lee was a greenhouse. Lee always had a green thumb, and the greenhouse allowed him to fill it with over 300 orchids. In springtime the third grade children from Sheridan Elementary would visit and receive a lesson about orchids. In the last four months whenever student nurses worked with them, he questioned them about their future educational plans. Teaching was the joy of his life.
Leland leaves behind his loving wife, Sharon; sisters Arlene Couture and Wanda Jansen; nephew Carroll (Jane) Couture; niece Irene (Bruce) Brown; great niece and nephews Jennifer (Brad) Wheeler, Kevin (Jillian) Couture, Brad (Tatum) Couture, and Spencer (Rio) Brown; great-great nieces and nephews Annabell and Izzabell Wheeler, Addyson Couture, Gunnar and Gannon Couture, and Macklen Brown. Lee is also survived by a host of cousins. Lee will be greatly missed by Sharon's family as well, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Lenal (James) Shoff, Lynnwood (Barbara) Boehme, Kevin (Carol) Boehme; nephews and nieces Troy (Maria) Boehme (Lee's special traveling buddies), Tracy (John) Mills, Karl (Kathy) Boehme, Kirk Boehme, Laura (Michael) Moyer and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lena Sharpe, brothers-in-law Leonard Couture and Leslie Jansen, and Sharon's parents, Leonard and Aline Boehme. Lee will be mourned by many dear friends and his USD 475 family, past and present.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 10:00 am at the First United Methodist Church of Junction City. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Clyde, Kansas at 3:00 pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The Geary Community Schools Foundation or to The Junction City Association of Retired School Personnel.