Leona Evelyn Loepp, age 107, died peacefully Friday, August 27, 2021, at Brookdale Liberal Springs in Liberal, Kansas.
She was born on March 2, 1914, the daughter of Tobias T. Dirks and Katie Zielke Dirks in Beaver County, Oklahoma.
Leona graduated Greenough High School and attended Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College (PAMC) in Goodwell, Oklahoma. She received a provisional teaching certificate in 1932. Leona taught school 3 years at Pleasant Valley in Beaver County, Oklahoma in a 1 room schoolhouse, and 1 year in the Golden Valley in Seward County, Kansas.
She married Franzie P. Loepp on May 16, 1936, in Beaver County. They were married for 66 years until his death in 2002.
She was the mother of two sons, Dennis and Franzie Lee Loepp.
Leona and Franzie purchased a farm in Oklahoma in 1942 and made it their home for 59 years.
Leona was a member of the Turpin Mennonite Church. The Church was an important part of her life. Leona taught Sunday School and Bible School. For many years Leona sewed cloth bags for the Mennonite Central Committee projects – school kits, health kits, etc. Leona and Franzie enjoyed Mennonite Disaster Service (M.D.S.) for as long as they were able. She also volunteered at The Etcetera Shop for many years.
With grateful hearts we remember the ways in which her long life has been a blessing to us all.
Survived by:
Her son, Dennis and his wife, Dori Loepp of Turpin, Oklahoma
Daughter-in-law, Dorothy Loepp of Normal, Illinois
Grandchildren, Leroy Loepp of Normal, Illinois, Susan Loepp of Williamstown, Massachusetts, Montina Romero (Rick) of Fountain, Colorado
and Jess Loepp (Kelly) of Boerne, Texas
Great Grandchildren, Xavier, Esai and Izabella Romero
Easton and Brooks Loepp
Leona was preceded in death by both her parents, Tobias, and Katie Dirks
her husband, Franzie P. Loepp
her son Franzie Lee Loepp
brothers, Leonard Dirks, Tobias T. “Junior” Dirks,
and sisters, Darlene Kitch, Adeline Goblin, and Sylvia Issacs.
Visitation will be from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM Wednesday, September 1, 2021. The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 West 2nd Street, Liberal, Kansas.
Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, September 2, 2021, at the Turpin Mennonite Church, Turpin Oklahoma.
Interment will follow at the Turpin Mennonite Cemetery.
Memorial donations suggested to the Turpin Mennonite Church in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 West 2nd Street, Liberal, Kansas.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com
The family is concerned about the public health situation and encourages those attending the visitation and/or funeral to be thoughtful of health safety protocols.
