Leon Sajulga,83, of Junction City, KS, passed away on Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Geary Community Hospital. Cremation will take place. A graveside service with full military honors will take place 10 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2017, at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery. A visitation will be held 6-8 p.m., Thursday at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to be given to the American Cancer Society.
Leon was born in Hana, Hawaii September 8, 1933, the son of Pelagio and Rosaline (Hoomalu) Sajulga.
Leon served in the United States Army and retired in 1975. He was a Korean and Vietnam Veteran. Leon worked for the railroad where he was a welder. He later worked for Mobile Traveler. In 1977, he started working in the maintenance department at Kauffman Engineering retiring in 2008 at the age of 75. After retirement he continued to help as needed. Shortly after retiring from the Army, Leon established a welding program at Fort Riley through Central Texas College. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.
Leon married Elise Margareta Syndikus July 6, 1984, in Junction City, KS.
Survivors include his wife Elise of the home; one son, Jurgen Smith and his wife Heike of La Plata, MD; two daughters, Paula Barton and her husband Dewey of Junction City, KS and Ursula Bachofer and husband Troy of Belleville, KS; four grandsons, Roscoe Mutz and Logan Mutz of Tucson, AZ, Cole Mutz and wife Alyssa of Springfield, MO, Jason Smith of Waldorf, MD; two granddaughters, Brandy Juarez of Lawrence, KS and Michelle Smith of Baltimore, MD; one great-grandson, Tyrell Juarez of Junction City, KS; one brother Norman Sajulga of AZ; two sisters, Teresa Lei Lehua and Gwyn Kaio both of Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Alvin Sajulga and Cage Sajulga; one sister, Genny Chang.
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