Marshall Glenn Leffler Virtual Memorial
Memorial Service Details:
A memorial service will be held for Marshall Glenn Leffler on Sunday, July 9th, 2023. In keeping with Marshall’s wishes, this event will be small and attended by only his closest family and friends. Invitations to this event will be sent by email.
The family will broadcast the memorial ceremony on Zoom for all others who may wish to join in the celebration of Marshall’s life. The ceremony will begin at 3:30 PM on Sunday, July 9th. At the time, attendees can join the zoom here: https://umn.zoom.us/j/94683276208.
Marshall Glenn Leffler passed away the evening of June 26th, 2023 at his home in Coon Rapids, MN at the age of 74. He was born March 7, 1949 to Lillian and Arthur Leffler in Kansas City, KS. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda Fischer Leffler; his daughters, Laura and Kit; and his two grandchildren, Izzy and Walter. Marshall’s true home was Kansas, where he lived for 70 years either as a resident of Kansas City, KS or Lawrence, KS. He was enigmatic, charming, unique and humorous. He had an adventurous spirit and loved annual camping trips with the family. He possessed a joie de vivre accompanied by both a laissez-faire attitude toward rules and a strong Christian faith and moral compass.
Marshall and Linda enjoyed a good joke; in their china hutch sit two plastic rats, and they would often say to each other, “If I had two dead rats, I would give you one.” They shared a love of literature; the poetry he wrote his wife will comfort her in the time after his passing. For many years Linda helped Marshall after he fell and was wheelchair-bound. But he also helped her as well. In fact, Marshall saved Linda’s life several times over: from a bird that got into the house; he shook a rake at a hissing opossum that got into their garage; from that time she fell into the very small, very avoidable fish pond; from a flying wood roach that got into the kitchen; from a prank phone caller; and from ever having to do her own taxes. Linda was not able to save him from a very friendly chipmunk in Rocky Mountain National Park, who - when Marshall sat on a boulder to take a break during a hike - ran up the inside of the leg of Marshall’s pants and down the other before anyone could register what was happening.
The “local Marshall” highly valued community building and service to others. Before his fall in 2009, he regularly volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Hope Builders through Holy Cross Lutheran, the Shawnee area Chamber of Commerce, Toys for Tots and the Kansas City Special Olympics. He manned the Kiwanis funnel cake booth at Old Shawnee Days for many years, oft returning home with powdered sugar on his nose, in his ears and hair! Later, Marshall participated in the KC Polar Bear Plunge; we will never forget our big bear of a dad barrelling into Shawnee Mission Lake in frigid February!
Marshall supported his daughters interests avidly over the years. He was a playful teddy bear who loved playing softball and catch with his girls. Marshall championed Kit’s experiences with horses, and specifically her involvement in the United States Pony Club. During Laura's tenure with the Kansas City Roller Warriors, Marshall was a season sponsor and often attended her bouts, tickled by her skate name 'Thunderella.' The majority of Kit’s knowledge of carpentry was developed from Marshall’s patient teaching; these lessons will continue to touch others as Kit uses these skills to serve the St. Anthony Park Community Garden and other community non-profit organizations. Izzy and her grandpa enjoyed doing puzzles together. Walter and his grandpa smiled at each other often and enjoyed their partially bald heads together.
Marshall had a truly amazing voice which he developed as a young boy in the school choir of his parochial school. Many family friends will remember his performance of Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling in Love sung at Kit’s wedding in the Fall of 2022. Other favorite melodies Marshall enjoyed singing include Danny Boy, the Smother’s Brother’s rendition of Laredo, and Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson’s Luckenbach, TX. Linda enjoyed his singing How Great Thou Art early in the mornings as he finished his Bible reading and prayer.
As a young man Marshall attended the University of Kansas and studied linguistics. During this time he developed a love of Russian literature, especially the writing of Dostoevsky and Gogol. He was a Jayhawk fan through and through, Rock Chalk! You could find him in the line of Joe’s Donuts many early mornings with his Lawrence pals.
Other fun facts and accomplishments about the man, the legend, the local Marshall include (but are certainly not limited to):
Marshall was a Bonner Springs High School forensics champion. Both of his daughters followed in his footsteps as medal-winning forensics competitors during their own high school careers.
Marshall was the all scholarship-hall champion of an annual Twixt (strategy game) championship during his tenure at Stephenson Hall. His daughter, Kit, later followed in his footsteps as a resident of Miller scholarship-hall.
He was a choco-holic who loved the darkest possible chocolate and constantly stashed emergency chocolates in secret spots: in the office, the car, the garage!
The family invite you to share your own memories of Marshall in the field below: