LeRoy Joseph Ast

LeRoy Joseph Ast, 82, Nevada, Mo., passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., with his wife and family by his side. LeRoy was born March 14, 1938, to Clemens and Agnes (Hermes) Ast in a small farmhouse in Andale, Kan. He was the second oldest of 14 children, learning early on in life the importance of looking after and caring for each other.

On April 4, 1964, LeRoy married Ann Marie (Schulte) in Conway Springs, Kan. To this union 11 children were born, Kevin (Christy) Ast, Krista (Joe) Fish, Kora (Jake) Anderson, Kurt Ast (Misty Caldwell), Kelly (Michelle) Ast, Kendall (Terrin) Ast, Kyle (Tracy) Ast, Kerry (Amanda) Ast, Kimberly (Derek) Hanson, Kaila (Justin) Earnest and Klemens (Amanda) Ast.

LeRoy graduated high school from Conway Springs, Kan., with the class of 1955. He served in the Army Reserve from 1960 to 1964. LeRoy will be fondly remembered as never knowing a stranger, putting in a hard day’s work and always wearing a smile. His passion was custom harvesting; loading up his equipment, his family and any number of hired hands and traveling the great plains, custom harvesting wheat during the summer. His customers were like family. Through his work he taught his kids many valuable lessons over the years, the most important being never take your health for granted, to always keep your faith and the value of family.

In addition to his wife and children, LeRoy is survived by 29 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brothers, Thomas Ast, Virgil Ast, and Daryl Ast of Nevada, Mo., Clemens Ast of Wichita, Kan., Theodore Ast of Garden Plain, Kan., and Cecil Ast and Cletus Ast both of Conway Springs, Kan.; sisters, Shirlene Hommertzheim and Lorraine Jeter both of Wichita, Kan., and Sharon Holsinger of Shawnee, Kan.; and numerous other family and friends.

LeRoy is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gary Ast and Larry Ast; sister, Etheldreda Hartman; and great-granddaughter, Kaidlyne Ast.

LeRoy adored his wife, Ann, of 56 years and loved his children and grandchildren dearly. He will be greatly missed by them all.

Visitation will be at Ferry Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22. Rosary and Funeral Mass will begin streaming live at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 23, from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nevada, Mo. You can find the live stream on St. Mary’s Catholic Church Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nevada, Mo., or a scholarship fund established for his grandchildren, in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

At this time there is no longer a statewide limitation on the number of people attending funerals or visitations, however those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing, and that people are asked to wear face masks to protect themselves and others.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.