Leland D. Maris, 84, went into the arms of the Lord Jesus June 24, 2024, at Kearney Regional Hospital. Leland was born on April 30, 1940, to Frank and Florence (Adamson) Maris on the Maris farm in Hitchcock County.
Leland lived his entire life on the Maris homestead, he attended grade school at Eden school district 54. He attended high school in Wauneta, at the end of his sophomore year he decided to leave high school and begin working at several different places including Larson’s Ford Garage and at Harchelroad Motors where he set up machinery. He also custom fertilized for quite a few different farmers. He also worked at JD Farm equipment in McCook.
On March 12, 1961, Leland married his sweetheart Sharon (Kerchal) at the Congregational Church in Hayes Center. Leland and Sharon were blessed with 3 beautiful children: Julie, Sheila, and Michael.
Julie married Dan Ashline and they blessed him with 3 grandchildren Nick, Ethan, and Eliese (fiancé Charlie Hall). Sheila married Skip Dargis blessing him with 2 grandsons Scott(wife Brooke) and Eric Dargis. Michael married Kim (Brown) blessing him with 2 granddaughters Brittnae and Breann (married Mike Patterson). Leland was given the great joy of great grandkids Alexys Jo and Logan Ryder Patterson, and Olive and Haddon Hall, they brought him so much entertainment and laughs, he loved to get lots of hugs and snuggles.
Leland loved being a dad, grandpa, and great grandpa. But most of all he loved being a husband to his wife of 63 years Sharon. They lived a marvelous life together on the farm, Sharon always helped with harvest and anything else Leland needed. They made the perfect team!
His faith was such a large part of his life - he was always at church, attending Eden Missionary Church, Hamlet Union Church and lastly at the Christian Union Church in Stratton. Leland loved the gift God gave him as a farmer. Every year after he planted a crop he would stand back and pray over his fields; he would say, “it’s in your hand now Lord”. He was still in his tractor working the ground as of last week, he loved his life, the farm, and his coffee buddies which he saw almost everyday at the local coffee hangout.
Leland is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Florence Maris, his brothers Dale and Marvin Maris, his sister Ilo (Maris) Mosiman. His grandson Ethan Leland Ashline, and his nephews Leon and Devon Maris.
Funeral services will be Saturday June 29, 2024, at the Christian Union Church, 501 Bailey Street, Stratton, NE officiated by Pastor Larry Unruh, at 10:00am (CT) with a graveside to follow at Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta, NE.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Sharon Maris for designation later.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.liewerfuneralhome.com