Leonard LeRoy Nienke, 83, of Inman, died May 3, 2010, at Good Samaritan Center, Hutchinson.

He was born Sept. 28, 1926, in Blackwolf Township, Ellsworth County, the son of Rudolph Frank Otto and Hulda Emelia Haase Nienke.

He graduated from Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth in 1944. He was a former operator for Carey Salt, a retired machinist from Eaton in 1991, and a retired custodian from Grace Episcopal Church.
He was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, and an avid gardener.

On Sept. 3, 1948, he married Winifred Jean Kelley at Grace Lutheran Church, Lyons. She survives.

Other survivors included: five sons, Stephen (Shandra), Simpsonville, S.C., Randell (Tonya), Brownell, Richard (Mary), Dubuque, Iowa, Ronald (Debi), Hutchinson, and Kelly (Brenda), Sylvia; two daughters, Tammy Wright (Mike), Buhler, and Tara Griffin (Bob), Inman; 29 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; numerous foster grandchildren; and seven sisters, Betty Ann Pflughoeft, Loveland, Colo., Doris Peterman, Milaca, Minn., Edith Kohls and Lois Holtz, both of Salina, Bernita Snyder, Gresham, Ore., Hulda Bricker, Ellsworth, and Velma Perez, Gypsum. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three grandchildren, Angela, Teresa and Jason Nienke.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, with burial at 3 p.m. in Kanopolis Cemetery, Kanopolis. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army Food Bank, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Food Bank or Hospice Care of Kansas, McPherson, in care of the mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.