Leland Opliger passed away peacefully at his home in Fairview, Kansas on September 18, 2017 with his two daughters at his bedside after a long illness.

He was born in Glade, Kansas on June 12, 1939, the son of Harry and Delia Opliger. Leland grew up in Agra, Kansas where he graduated high school. He received several accolades in sports and other activities including being voted Class President his senior year. From 1958 to 1962 he attended Fort Hays State College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Following graduation Leland taught school for 10 years then made a career change, serving as an American Family Insurance agent in St. Marys, Kansas for 24 years. He later retired from the motel business in Hiawatha, Kansas.

He married Carla Stockman of Kirwin, Kansas and to this union two daughters were born: Kathy and Kay Lyn, and thence seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Leland had many hobbies, but the one most special to him was restoring old cars while living in St. Marys, Kansas.

Preceding him in death were his parents, brother, Mark, and a stillborn daughter, Karina Justine.

Survivors include his daughters, Kathy Bush (Rhonda Gillette) and Kay Lyn (Carl) Carlson; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (John) Frederiksen, Jessica (Randy) Kibbee, Austin (Alexis) Bush, Maya Gillette, Emily Carlson, Anna Carlson, and Ethan Carlson; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Pauline Opliger and Lila Bailey.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, KS.

Mr. Opliger will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends for visitation prior to the funeral at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Leland would ask for memorial donations to the Saving Death Row Dogs, Topeka, KS, where his beloved dogs Trey & Snicker’s have found their forever home.