Ila Irene Leach

Ila “Irene” Leach, 76, of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away Monday, October 10, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. She was born May 28, 1935, in Kearney, Nebraska to Albert and Nora (Hodge) Dobberstein. Irene attended school at Kearney and graduated from Kearney High School with the class of 1953. She was united in marriage to Clifford “Paige” Leach on August 15, 1954, at Kearney. Two children were blessed to this marriage; Larry and Laurie. Irene worked in the cafeteria for at time in the Kearney Public Schools and absolutely loved the students and her fellow cooks. Following their marriage, the couple moved several places until settling in the Minden/Kearney area. They lived for a time in Arizona to be near Laurie, but returned home to the Minden/Kearney area and then to Cozad. Irene was always so thoughtful and family and friends looked forward to her beautiful Christmas cards which were always the first to arrive each season. She was known as the family historian and any questions were always directed her way as she knew the answers. She loved her Chicago Cubs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This past May she took the bus to Chicago and watched her beloved Cubs at Wrigley Field. This was something on her “bucket list” that she was able to cross off. She also played a mean game of cards and played Jeopardy along with the contestants every day while watching the show. She almost always knew the answers. Family meant everything to Irene and she always put everyone before herself. She was a lady with a heart of gold and will never, ever be forgotten. Irene was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Kearney and attended the Cozad Berean Church. Survivors include one son: Larry Leach of Cozad, Nebraska One daughter and son-in-law: Laurie and Russ Holen of Cozad, Nebraska One grandson: J.P. Fowler who is attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Three brothers: Jack and wife Ramona Dobberstein of Kearney, Wayne and wife Cee Dobberstein of Arvada, Colorado Dale and wife Barb Dobberstein of Phoenix, Arizona One brother-in-law: Rodney Krueger of Kearney, Nebraska Three sisters-in-law: Lorrene Dobberstein of Lincoln, Nebraska Vicki Applegarth of Kearney, Nebraska Delorse Dobberstein of Kearney, Nebraska Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband Paige 2010; four brothers, Jim, Cole, Glen and Shorty; one sister, Erma Krueger and one sister-in-law; Ruth Dobberstein Funeral Services will be Friday, October 14, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cozad Berean Church in Cozad with J.C. Calhoun officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 13, 2011, from 7-9 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Burial will be in the Kearney Cemetery at Kearney, Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the family for a bench in memory of Irene to be placed later. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please direct online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.