Kent Leach

Born August 15, 1959. Died February 7, 2022. He was 62 years, 5 months and 28 days old.

Kent died suddenly and so unexpectedly on his beloved farm while doing chores. Kent had spoken earlier with his Mother and noted what a beautiful day it was - and it remained that way and we will remember that as we realize his death.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 11, 2022 at the Lewellen Tiger Den with Pastors Seung Ho Park and Karen Garrison officiating.  Burial will follow in the Ash Hollow Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live and available to watch after the service on the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hbfunerals).

Visitation will be held Thursday afternoon 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh.

Your presence and prayer is of great support, if you choose to gift a memorial, our family will determine that at a later time.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Leach family.

Family and friends can view a memorial slideshow and leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.

The farm and ranch, which began with Kent’s ancestors and elders, continued to grow, develop, endure, survive and remain through Kent’s grit and vision. He took the lessons from his Father and Mother, his education through experience and self-growth and persisted through market fluctuations, weather hardships, financial strain and lack of man-hours - all typical of the farm and ranch industry - not all have been able to survive. He was well-respected by many for the businessman, crop, and cattle producer he became. His working/business relationships - friendships grew through mutual respect and good communication. This provided many opportunities to grow.

This life, his life, was lived and passionately enjoyed as he spent the majority of his time working within the family farm and ranch he loved - albeit for those he loved. Time spent was not an equivalent for the love known by his family.  Kent proposed to Crystal (Lake) on a hot late July day with a beautiful ring and asked, “will you have me?” That was graciously accepted, and this marriage has lasted almost 26 years since March 23, 1996 and has built a beautiful home and family of three daughters, Courtney Lyn 24, Madeline Jo 20, and Kaylee Rae 18. As his daughters have grown, they have all become a part of living, working, and growing our farm and ranch. Building fence, corrals, working cattle (a sometimes not so pleasant display of our working relationships), haying, and harvest have all been special moments in their lives. Kent’s oldest daughter Courtney has returned to actively working on the farm full-time. Kent was grateful for Courtney’s marriage to Brodie - finally for a son (in-law) and their becoming relationship and impact from their presence. Madeline and Kaylee are still in educational pursuit and working when they are able and offer valuable input into our family farm and ranch. Kent knew their value, respected their time spent, and so looked forward to their future becoming. Special memories and thoughts about their father include working cattle, hunting, fishing, camping, being outdoors and being tough. They do not remember him crying. He taught them many things with few words, including how to be better and to learn from your mistakes.  He was strong, happy, and Never gave up. He would do anything to help his girls succeed, he and Kent’s parents helped start each daughter’s cow herd. He was loud. It was hard to make him mad. He was a pro coyote hunter and pro cow caller. He was strong and kind, grounded, persevering, loving, nurturing, loyal, passionate and funny. He did what he loved no matter what anyone else thought. He never seemed to stop, but would take time to enjoy his coffee and a meat and eggs breakfast most mornings. He loved this way of life more than anyone they know, and he fought hard as he could for every ounce of everything he had. He loved his daughters as much and more than they maybe knew, but may they…

The farm and ranch has also endured and grew through the presence and efforts from our hired hand - more like family - Tracy Collins. Tracy has been a part of this operation and family for nearly 26 years. Kent valued greatly the time he has given. He (and his family) are chosen family to whom our family is forever grateful.

Kenny Barringer has made a great impact in the short amount of time he has spent and offered energy to our operation. Kent was able to relax and enjoy more with all of the great and capable hands working the farm and ranch he loved. He enjoyed traveling, although rare, it is something we looked forward to in the future…  Kent held value to true working relationships which were also strong friendships. Kent really enjoyed shop and tailgate visits.

Kent loved his dogs and horses and they will miss his attention he so enjoyably gave. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and artifact hunting.

Kent, forever, was assessing the land, the earth, the crops, the cattle and equipment, noticing it all. He especially liked to tour right after a rainstorm, the greasier the roads the better! He loved seeing growth.

May we, remaining, carry forward from the life he led and the farm and ranch be continued to build. He is dearly missed by his Mother Doris, by his wife Crystal (Lake),Mother- and Father-In Law Dallas and Sharolyn Lake, Daughters Courtney Miklos (Brodie), Madeline, and Kaylee. His sister Karen Garrison (Len), Nieces, Heather Nguyen (Joe), Christy Cawthra (Skyler), Sarah Hotchkiss (Adam), Sister-In-Law Tamie Grauberger, Sister- and Brother-In-Law Donelle and John Pankowski. Nieces Lindsay Buck (Kevin), Britni Schmaltz (Eric), Bethany Ehrich (Danny), Emily Hubert (Braden), and Nephew Wyatt Pankowski (fiance’ Brittney Newkirk). Granddog Tank, and our Cowboy, Laska and Maggie will greatly miss Kent as well. Kent’s life lived through the land and work he loved - his legacy is our platform we must find our footing in and carry on. Kent was preceded in death by his father Jack Leach, Grandmother Adeline Nelson, Grandmother Pauline Leach, and Grandfather Erwin “Buck” Leach and his Uncle Ted Waltman.

Kent is everywhere and Kent is nowhere. Kent was a very decisive, a bit black and white thinker. It was a great part of the drive providing his endurance and success. Kent is nowhere here with us physically yet everywhere around us, and with Grampy and God. That is faith. May we all heal and grow throughout.