Leasa, Kenneth Varden (1948-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Sep 26 p. 9

Birth date: 1948 Aug 12

text of obituary:

Kenneth Varden Leasa, 60, of Downingtown, Pa., died Aug. 4, 2009, after a one-year battle with an aggressive brain cancer. He was born Aug. 12, 1948, to William Kenneth and Betty Brackbill Leasa in West Chester.

He was raised in Frazer. He was a 1966 graduate of Great Valley High School.

He attended several universities, earning bachelor of arts and master’s degrees from California State University in Los Angeles and Berkeley in the early 1970s, and later a bachelor of science degree from West Chester University. He was gifted with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and was a lifelong student of history, political science and languages, including Spanish, Russian, German and Pennsylvania Dutch. He taught classes in Pennsylvania Dutch for the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society.

He was also interested in running and cycling for many years. He completed the Philadelphia Independence Marathon in 1983. Beginning in 1982, he began commuting to work on his bicycle 25 miles a day. In 1989 he rode his bicycle from San Diego, Calif., to Frazer on a 30-day solo bicycle trip.

He was intensely interested in genealogy and was the family historian. He was highly regarded in the fields of genealogy and local history, writing articles for publications.

He was a member of Frazer Mennonite Church. He was involved with the Foresingers and Table Singers singing groups.

He was most recently employed at Barr’s Products. Prior to that he worked for Clews & Strawbridge for 25 years.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Marie, who gave him extraordinary loving care during his illness; two daughters, Jen Leasa and her husband, Eibe Johanns, of Valley Bend, W.Va., and Adrienne Leasa of Spring City; a sister, Paula Warren of Frazer; and a brother, Stephen K. Leasa of Phoenixville.

Funeral services were held at Frazer Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.