Leroy A. Adwell

Leroy A. Adwell, 91, of Lindsborg, KS, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Bethany Home in Lindsborg.

Leroy was born on October 9, 1932, in rural Ravenwood, MO, the son of Andrew Jacob and Dortha Mae (O’Bannon) Adwell.   Part of his childhood was in Idaho and then in Oregon where they lived on Roger’s mountain before moving to Portland, Oregon.  Moved back to Missouri in 1945, he graduated from high school in Ravenwood, MO.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, with the rank of Platoon Sergeant serving at the end of the Korean War from 1953 to 1955, being part of the Float Bridge Company, placing temporary bridges where permanent bridges had been destroyed in battle.

Leroy moved to Kansas in 1955 and worked for Skelgas, an underground storage facility in Conway.   Later it became Texaco, where he worked for 35 years until taking early retirement in 1990.

He was united in marriage on September 8, 1956, to Murla D. Becker at the Presbyterian Chapel in McPherson, KS.   To their union were born four children: Patty, Roger, Laura, and Douglas.

Leroy and Murla’s first purchased home in Conway was a story and a half house that they transformed into a ranch style house.  He could never just sit and do nothing, was always building something, whether it was a play house, merry-go-round, or a go-cart for us kids.  He’d go fishing whenever he got the chance. Then, they decided to move to the country, and they built that house.  He decided to get into the hog business.  What started out with a few sows, turned into a lot more.

After a time later, he gave up the hogs and changed to buying Holstein calves in Wisconsin where they were bottle fed and then raised up to 300 to 400 lbs before being sold  In 1984, they sold the farm and moved to Lindsborg, where again they remodeled a 2 ½ story house.  Dad enjoyed keeping busy building furniture and crafts that they sold at craft shows.  Also, he loved being with family, gardening, raising pigeons, doves, and chickens.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Gary Adwell, and sister, Mary Lou Sledge.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Murla Adwell of Lindsborg, KS; four children, Patty Turnquist (Bryce) of Lindsborg, KS, Roger Adwell (Melody) of Chanute, KS, Laura Johannsen (Richard) of Lindsborg, KS, and Douglas Adwell (Linda) of Valley Center, KS; a sister, Shirley Coffelt of Maryville, MO; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date.  The final resting place will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Lindsborg.

Memorial donations can be made to Bethany Home in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.