Gordon Leben
Gordon Lee Leben, age 89, died and went to be with his Lord on Nov. 16, 2020, just shy of turning 90, after contracting COVID-19. Born Dec. 18, 1930, to Herman and Florence (Brase) Leben in their Amherst home, he was the first son of four children.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst, where he also attended parochial school.
Gordon graduated from Phillips County High School (now Holyoke High School) in 1948, attended the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) for a semester, and then, upon turning 18, joined the U.S. Navy. He served for four years in the Navy’s Construction Battalion Division, the “Seabees,” and during the Korean War was stationed in Guam. After his service, he returned to Phillips County to farm with his father.
He was united in marriage to Winona Covert on Dec. 10, 1954. They had four children: Les Lee, Robert R., Nunzy Sue and Kevin Loyd. While still farming, he decided to return to CU, first seeking a degree in medicine but ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science in education in 1966.
Before graduating, he was offered a job teaching fourth grade math, science and social studies — the 4B classroom — at Holyoke Elementary, where he taught from the fall of ’66 through the spring of ’75. He loved teaching and loved all the challenges that went along with encouraging growth and independent thinking in young lives — “self-control” was his motto.
Farming, on the other hand, was his passion. He always strived to be a better farmer. As a young farmer, he designed and built his own farm equipment and in later years was an early adopter of advanced dryland wheat farming techniques.
Several years ago, while still actively farming, Gordon moved into Carriage House Assisted Living to be closer to Winona, who is a resident at Regent Park Nursing Home. They lived in separate wings of the care facility and were very happy to be “apart but together.”
He was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and served the congregation in many capacities over the years, including teaching high school Sunday school and confirmation classes. He also was very active in Bethesda Lutheran Communities, which supports people with disabilities.
Throughout his life, Gordon enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in Amherst, farming, serving in the Navy, playing baseball in Amherst, being an Amherst volunteer fireman, and living in CU family housing on the Boulder campus during the 1960s. He was also a lifelong ardent and enthusiastic supporter of the Colorado Buffs academic and sports programs.
During his long life, Mr. Leben encouraged everyone, especially his former students and his own children (who were also his students), to do and be anything they wanted, that there were no limits. He was immensely proud of his students and reminded them of that every time he spoke with them over the years.
He loved his large extended family, too numerous to mention by name, and their shared history and wonderful memories. Most of all, he loved Winona, his wife of almost 66 years, and cared for her daily in the nursing home, along with the expert assistance of the Regent Park staff.
When COVID-19 was detected in their facility, Gordon was allowed to move into Winona’s room in the nursing wing before the lockdown, and they shared their last few weeks together. While Winona repeatedly tested negative, Gordon ultimately tested positive for COVID-19. He was taken to Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 11, and passed away the following Monday, Nov. 16.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Florence Leben; and his infant siblings, sister Lois and brother Kenneth.
He is survived by his wife, Winona; his sister, Karen Leben Stoner and husband Dale; son, Les Leben; son, Robert Leben and wife Megan, and grandsons Lukas, Markus and Justus; daughter, Nunzy Leben Alves and husband Bruce, granddaughter Brianna Allen and husband Jeff, and grandson Alston; son, Kevin Leben and wife Dawn, grandsons Noah, Shea, Bryson, Orion and Treston, and granddaughters, Ciannan, Cambria and Capri; and numerous other relatives and friends.
A memorial service was held Nov. 27 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst. Inurnment followed at the Amherst Cemetery. St. Paul’s pastor, Rev. Kurt Hatteberg, officiated.
Donations in memory of Gordon L. Leben may be made at bethesdalc.org/get-involved/donate, www.colorado.edu/education/giving, or a charity of your choice in Gordon’s name. Cards and letters may also be sent to the Gordon Leben family, P.O. Box 69, Amherst, CO 80721. Please make donation checks payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with “Gordon Leben Memorial” in the memo.
Baucke Funeral Home directed the services.