Obituary of Kathleen R. Leid

Kathleen R. Leid, 70, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, died on March 19, 2024 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee after a five-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was born on April 14, 1953 in Wichita, Kansas to Richard G. and Mary Frances (Meeker) Rogers. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Gary J. Leid, on January 26, 2013.

Kathleen had a rich and complex life that can be summed up in three words: spirituality, books and grandchildren.

As an alumna of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, and Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, Kathleen had endless academic interests and considered herself a lifelong student. She voiced this commitment to learning to her children and grandchildren. For her college age grandchildren, she provided a listening ear for their questions in regard to their studies. For her younger grandchildren, she was the book giver and book reader until she was unable to read aloud due to speech issues from Parkinson’s. Her passion for learning, reading and being a good listener will live on through those whose lives she touched.

Following college, Kathleen and her husband settled in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where Kathleen would find her passion as a Youth Library Assistant at the Glen Ellyn Public Library. It was also in Glen Ellyn, during her time as a faithful parishioner of St. Mark's Episopal Church, that Kathleen joined The Order of the Daughters of the King as a communicant of the Episcopal Church. She carried the DOK Cross of the Order with her for the remainder of her life.

Seeking additional adventure following retirement from the library, Kathleen studied to become a Hospital Chaplain at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin as part of their Clinical Pastoral Education program. Kathleen would often reference her time at Gundersen as one of the most impactful experiences of her spiritual life. In observance of her faithful devotion and time spent learning in a hospital, Kathleen’s final days in hospice were lovingly presided over by Chaplain David Guy, of Alive Hospice. The honorable ceremony provided to Kathleen upon her passing will be forever remembered by her daughters.

Following the Pastoral program, and the sudden death of her husband, Kathleen moved to her home state of Kansas to be closer to her beloved siblings, Richard G. Rogers and Julie (Rogers) Huxman. Landing in Newton, Kathleen became a faithful parishioner of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. During her time back home, Kathleen caught the library bug once more and worked for the South Central Kansas Library System in Hutchinson, Kansas until her final retirement in 2018.

Ever the doting grandma, Kathleen then spent her time traveling between her daughters’ families in Illinois and Tennessee. No matter the distance, she was a good friend to many and enjoyed keeping in touch through letters, emails and the occasional surprise book in the mail to the many wonderful children she counted as family.

Kathleen is survived by her two daughters and their families: Julianne L. (Leid) Herrick and her husband, Michael J. Herrick, of Richmond, Illinois, and their three children, Riley, Aidan and Emerson Herrick; and M. Bethany Leid and her partner, Martin A. MacMillan, and their daughter, Olivia “Liva Rose” MacMillan, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

A service of remembrance will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Newton, Kansas with The Reverend Les Jackson, Celebrant. Her burial at Halstead Cemetery will immediately follow the service with The Reverend Brad Riley, Officiant.

In lieu of flowers, and in continuance of Kathleen’s ever loving devotion to books, monetary or book donations are suggested to the Glen Ellyn Public Library either via online (gepl.org/donate-to-the-library/) or by check made payable to the Glen Ellyn Public Library, Attn: Business Office, 400 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Donations in kind are also suggested to any local library or book program that touches your heart.

“May your journey bring you increasing peace and joy.”- Gary to Kathleen; handwritten inscription in their copy of The Book of Common Prayer.