Zella Wilma Stinnette Leach

Zella Wilma Stinnette Leach completed her earthly journey, passing away July 8, 2021, at the age of 97 years, 9 months 14 days.
Wilma was born Sept. 24, 1923, on the family farm near Enders, Nebraska, in Dundy County. She was the third child of Thomas Stevenson Stinnette and Mary May Skelton Stinnette. She joined her older brothers, Howard and Harold (Hap), and two years later received a baby brother, Leon.
Her older brothers passed away in 2001 and 1976 respectively, but she and Leon have remained very close, brother and sister and best friends all these years. They visited when they could and talked frequently on the phone. They would remember the fun times they had as children playing together, making mud pies, helping their mother and getting into mischief on occasion.
Their older brother, Hap, had a motorcycle which he let the two of them ride ONCE. Seems Wilma, who was in front, forgot how to let off the throttle and nearly killed them both. There must have been divine intervention as they survived without a scratch.
Like her brothers, Wilma attended the little country school, Ash Grove, two miles from home. She rode a horse to school. He was “Old Billy” and not a pleasant fellow, but Wilma usually had the last word. She eagerly defended the quality of the education received by all the children who attended that school due to the excellent teachers and their commitment to all the children. She often spoke about that group of people who all were good citizens, successful in their lives and made the world a better place.
She attended Wauneta High School in Wauneta, graduating in the class of 1942. Wilma loved school and was an excellent student. She was awarded a scholarship to Chillicothe Business College in Missouri where she again excelled.
Wilma married Walter Stone Dunham. They traveled to Seattle, Washington, where she worked at Boeing Aircraft Company during the World War II era, as secretary to several parts buyers for the B-17 and B-25 airplanes and later with attorneys. They returned to Wauneta where their daughter, Patsy Lea, was born.
She later married Orris J. Allen, known as Jack. Wilma still had a great interest in the business world and took an opportunity to work for Behrent Engineering Company during the early years of their marriage. She began as secretary /girl Friday and retired as administrative assistant to the president of the company. The company had become well known throughout the U.S. as a consulting engineering firm, particularly in the field of cement plants and mining.
Wilma ran a tight ship but could always be counted on to have time to listen to a problem, share a joy or sorrow or point someone in the right direction. “Mrs. A” was always there when they needed her.
Even more important to her was her Christian faith. She was baptized at a country church near her home. She attended Mount Zion Methodist Church south of Wauneta where she received her unshakable foundation and love of Christ.
She was committed to adult education and taught classes on the books of James, Mark, Acts and Nehemiah and the Beatitudes among others. She attended classes at Conservative Baptist Seminary and traveled extensively to see the lands she taught about. On one trip, she followed the path of Martin Luther and on another, she visited the Holy Land.
She often spoke about her travels to the Bible lands of Greece, Turkey, Jordan and Israel. It was a troubled time in that part of the world, but they survived armed guards, sabotage of the plane and a horseback ride through the canyons of Jordan to Petra and mule rides in Greece. She always wanted to go back. Walking the streets of Jerusalem was never to be forgotten.
In September 1986, Wilma married the love of her life. She had been single for 13 years and prayed for a good man who loved God and who would share her faith and her life. Leonard Leach filled the bill. They had known of each other their whole lives but never actually met. Wilma’s childhood best friend and Leonard’s first cousin, Virginia Green, played matchmaker. It was love at first sight. In addition to this wonderful man, Wilma became stepmother to three fine men, Bruce, Dale and Gene Leach. She loved them and their wives as her own and enjoyed each grandchild and great-grandchild that came along. She had hoped for siblings for Patsy but took her time getting them.
Wilma and Leonard had a wonderful life together. They traveled, operated an antique business, created and sold egg art, enjoyed life together, worshiped God and were examples of how to live your best life. Most of all, they loved each other. At the time of Leonard’s death in October 2019, they had been married for 33 years and 12 days.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her parents, Tom and May Stinnette; brothers, Howard and Hap Stinnette; sisters-in-law, Fern, Leslie and Gwen Stinnette, stepson, Gene Leach; daughter-in-law, Linda Leach; and niece, Wanda Wareham.
She is survived by her brother, Leon Stinnette; daughter, Patsy (Arthur) Rogen; stepsons, Bruce (Sharon) Leach and Dale(Diane) Leach; grandchildren: Shad, Caron, Bryce and his wife, Brook; great-grandchildren, Liam, Savannah and her husband, Kris Martin, Zachery, Andrew, Kyle and his wife, Evelyn, Brenden, Christian and Samantha; great great-granchildren, Adilynn Marie Martin and Kristopher Martin III; daughter-in-law, Deborah Leach; nieces, Sheri Arterburn, Sharon (Leron) Wallin, Rhonda (Rod) Spencer, Barbara (Jim) Koetter; and a nephew, Jim (Meda) Goddard.
Wilma had wonderful caregivers who became family: Leslie and Adam Lowry, Jeannette Boyle, Barbara Armstrong and Lucy Antonetti.
Wilma always had a smile, a kind word or a funny story for family, friends and neighbors. She will be missed by all at Good Samaritan Village where everybody loved “Miss Wilma.”
Funeral services are Thursday morning, July 15 at Allnutt Drake Chapel in Fort Collins, Colorado, with a reception to follow. Memories and messages to the family may be left at www.allnuttftcollins.com.