Don Leis

Howard Donald “Don” Leis, 87, of Elida, Ohio passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 1, 2023 at 6:10 pm at The Meadows of Ottawa. Don was born in Lima, Ohio on January 16, 1936 to the late Howard and Opal (Baker) Leis. On February 2, 1957, Don married Phyllis Elaine (Wagner) Leis at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elida. Phyllis preceded him in death on December 24, 2015.

Don was a proud graduate of Elida High School where he excelled In football, basketball and baseball. He also served as president of the graduating Class of 1954. He continued his education at O.S.U. and received a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio in 1958. In 1966, Don graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., with a Master’s degree in Education. His 32 year career in education began in 1958 at Sidney (Oh.) Jr. High teaching math. In 1960, Don and Phyllis returned to Elida where he taught junior high math for ten years, followed by twenty years as a high school guidance counselor, retiring from E.H.S. in 1990. In 1970, Don was elected as clerk/treasurer for the Village of Elida and held that office for twenty years. Beginning in 1994, he served twelve years as an American Township trustee. Don was a man with many hobbies. Those included photography, bird watching, coin collecting, trap shooting, hunting, fishing, woodworking, making jewelry, gunsmith, making and collecting knives and attending post season volleyball and basketball tournaments at the Elida Field House. But his favorite event was the family camping trip with all the kids and grandkids to Burt Lake in Indian River, Michigan. Although he wasn’t able to go this past July, he sure enjoyed all the pictures from our 55th annual trip.

Don is survived by his three children, Brad (Ginny) Leis of Ottawa, Mike (Cindy) Leis of Elida, and Jeni (Jo Ann Gordon) Leis of Maumee. Survivors also include nine grandchildren. Will Henry (Emily) of Kalida, Jon Henry of Columbus, Katie (Andrew Seidel) Henry of Granville, Sydney (Rob) Giesken of Gahanna, Emily (Jordan) Lane of Maumee, and Maggie (Clay) Giesige of Columbus. Also, Andrew (Chelsea) Leis of Elida, Trevor (Haley) Leis of Elida, and Amanda Leis of Cincinnati. Also, five great-grandchildren include Miah Leis, Ryder Leis, Sutton Leis, Lincoln Leis and Charlie Giesken. Don has one cousin, Scott Lynn Miller of Tierra Verde, Fla., a brother-in -law, Richard “Dick” Wagner of Murrell Inlet, S.C., and two nephews, Jon (Stef) Wagner of Bay Village, Oh. and Jim (Brenda) Wagner of Squamish, British Columbia.

Visitation hours will be 2:00-8:00 pm on Sunday November 5, 2023 at Harter-Schier Funeral Home, 209 W. 3rd St., Delphos, Ohio. Funeral services, conducted by Don’s nephew Jim Wagner, will be held on Monday November 6, 2023 at 11:00a.m. at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, Delphos, Ohio. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Elida, Ohio. 

Please consider a memorial contribution to the recently established Elida Historical Society, c/o

P.O. Box 3014 Elida, OH 45807