William Wallace Leeker Jr.

William (Bill) Wallace Leeker, Jr., of Hillsdale, KS, passed away unexpectedly on May 28, 2024, at the young age of 55.

Bill was born on March 26, 1969, in Paola, KS, the oldest child of William (Bill) Wallace Leeker Sr., and Nancy Sue Pearce. On June 11, 1988, he married the love is his life, Rhonda Hargiss. They made their home in Olathe and their marriage of 35 years blessed them with two daughters (Brandi and Briana) and one grandchild (Aiden). His daughters and grandchild were his entire world, and he cherished every minute he got to spend with each of them.

Bill started his career working at Walmart as a retail manager for more than 15 years. During this time, he lived vicariously through Brandi and the love of softball, investing in her natural talent, travelling all over, sacrificing all he could to pave the way for her to rise to the highest level of achievement she wanted to pursue. Watching her play at the college level and being proud of all she accomplished was one of the highlights of his life and always something he loved to talk about. His love for softball was evident and he may have loved it more than Brandi did.

Although Briana didn’t play softball, it was soon after college softball ended that she would bring another love into his life, his grandson Aiden, who lit up his world and brought him so much joy and happiness. Watching Briana grow into motherhood, work towards a successful career, and accomplish some big honors in her job made him so proud. He adored being called pawl pawl and looked forward to his time he spent with Aiden, taking him places and spoiling him.

In 2014, Bill and Rhonda fell in love with life at the lake and moved to Linn Valley, KS. Bill loved spending time with his family which also included his cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles and friends playing cornhole, gathering around a roaring fire, fishing and driving around the lake on his golf cart, enjoying the wildlife and peacefulness the lake life brought. It was also during this time that he changed his career and became employed at Taylor Forge Engineered Systems in Paola, KS., in 2017, where he has spent the last 5 plus years, and a member of the Boiler Makers Local 84.

Bill was an avid music lover of classic and outlaw country and enjoyed spending the past few years attending many concerts, hanging out regularly at his favorite place (Knuckleheads KC) listening to many bands and becoming friends with members of the bands he followed (some of his favorites included Whiskey Myers, Whitey Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Meloy and The Steel Woods). He was also a huge sports fan who loved taking trips with his family to catch a Boston Red Sox game, and cheering on his other favorite teams, the KU Jayhawks and the Pittsburg Steelers.

Bill was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Bernard David Leeker and Dolores Celeste (Cudney) Leeker; his maternal grandparents, James Stanley Pearce, and Lillian Nadine (Achey) Balthrop; and his father, William (Bill) Wallace Leeker, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Nancy Sue Pearce; the mother of his children, Rhonda Hargiss Leeker; his daughters Brandi Leeker Rosas and Briana Leeker; his grandson Aiden Bland; his brothers Brian Leeker (Dawn) and Bernard Leeker; a sister Tamara Bounds; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and aunts and uncles who will all miss him dearly.

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