Gordon L Leiding

Funeral services for Gordon L. Leiding age 88 of Orchard will be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday May 17th at the United Methodist Church In Orchard. Burial will be in the Orchard Hill Cemetery with Military Honors.  Gordon passed away May 14, 2024 at the Wisner Care Center.  Ashburn Funeral Home in Orchard is in charge of arrangements.

Gordon Laverne Leiding, 88, peacefully passed away on May 14, 2024 at the Wisner Care Center where he recently resided. It’s difficult to find just a few words that can accurately describe Gordon, but to those who loved him he will forever hold a large place in our hearts.

Gordon was born on March 14, 1936, in Orchard, NE, to John and Cecil (Boelter Clark) Leiding. He was the third of six children in the family. He grew up on the family farm west of Orchard where his love of farming and the outdoors began at a young age. He attended Orchard High School where he excelled at academics, football, basketball, and baseball before graduating in 1953. After high school he briefly attended college before enlisting in the U.S. Army.  He served his nation for two years in the U.S. Army Signals Corps and was stationed in Germany and operated throughout Europe for most of his enlistment.

Gordon wed Joanne Twibell on December 26, 1956 and to this union came three daughters Lori (Roger) Massie, Janet (John) McCain, and Jody (Dennis) Graskowiak.  He and Joanne built their farm and raised their family west of Orchard. In his younger years he was active in community leadership and played on the local town baseball team for many years. Once his daughters became of age, he was active in coaching many of their athletic teams. He was an avid outdoorsman with his home, garage and vehicles always having hunting and fishing gear ready to pounce on the opportunity for the next big catch. His family all has fond memories of their many experiences in the boat or the blind with Gordon. His love for hunting wasn’t limited to game animals, he also loved hunting for treasures at sales or auctions. If he wasn’t farming or on the River/local lake, he could be found socializing at the Verdigre Sales Barn, the Lunch Box/Sugars, The Double D/The Den, and Green Gables. He put many miles on his Ford truck driving the country roads of Antelope, Knox and Holt counties. He enjoyed following the Orchard Orioles and Nebraska Cornhuskers, and watching anything related to sports.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his daughters Janet (John) McCain and Jody (Dennis) Graskowiak; grandchildren Ann (Aaron) Collingham, Kayla (Brent) Lofgren, Mason (Jessie) McCain, Shayna (Caleb) Meier, Vanessa McCain, and Katie Graskowiak; great-grandchildren Wyatt & Morgan Collingham, Grayson & Zayden Lofgren, Miles McCain, Layne & Lucas Meier; brother Kenneth Leiding and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Waiting to greet Gordon after his death were his wife, parents, daughter and son-in-law Lori and Roger Massie, and siblings Donald Clark, Darlene (Clark) Moats, Russell Leiding, and Keith Leiding.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the Nebraska Games & Parks Commission at 2200 N 33rd St, Lincoln, NE 68503. Please add the notation of “In memory of Gordon Leiding.”