Brice E. Leon

Brice E. Leon, 60, Topeka, passed away on September 16, 2011, after a year long battle with cancer. Brice was born June 15, 1951, in McPherson, Kansas, the son of Eugene E. and B. Jean (Brice-Nash) Leon. He graduated from Concordia High School in 1969, Cloud County Community College in 1971 with an Associate of Arts degree, earned his Bachelors of Arts from Bethany College in 1973, and completed his Certificate in Physical Therapy at the KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas in 1974.

Brice was confirmed in the Presbyterian Church in Concordia on March 22, 1964, and was ordained an Elder and Deacon in the ensuing years. He was a member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church, Topeka. Brice was in the Boy Scouts of America, reaching the Life Rank, active in the Order of the Arrow, and received the God and Country Award.

Brice was an outstanding athlete in high school and college, excelling in basketball and track events. In 1973 he received honors such as NAIA All-District 10 team, was selected to the All Lutheran Brotherhood Basketball team, and chosen to appear in Outstanding College Athletes of America. Brice was an exercise enthusiast whose passion for weight training kept him in shape his adult life. He was a motivator and trainer of young athletes, forming a club, K-N Weight Lifting, where he set up training sites in Belleville, Mankato, and Hebron, Nebraska, to help young athletes improve their strength, speed and skills in their particular sports. Brice coached several area athletes, entering them in Olympic Weight Lifting competitions as far away as St. Louis, Missouri.

Brice was a man of many interests and talents. He sang in choirs and small groups at various times. He had an appreciation for art, music and the diverse ethnic celebrations of the area. Brice was an avid KU fan, attending many football, basketball and volleyball games.

On November 3, 1974, Brice was married to Karen Sweat at the Methodist Church in Concordia, Kansas. He was a devoted father to their three sons, Erik, Justyn and Sean, whom he taught, coached and inspired with great love. Brice directed the physical therapy department at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, Kansas for 22 years. He also worked throughout North Central Kansas and South Central Nebraska directing physical therapy departments in Hebron and Geneva Nebraska, Mankato, Washington, Smith Center, Phillipsburg, and Hill City, Kansas. He had a special way with the elderly and children. Brice and Karen moved to Topeka, Kansas in 2003 and Brice worked as a physical therapist at various clinics and nursing homes until he found his true calling at the Topeka VA Medical Center where he joined the physical therapy staff in 2005. He loved working with the diverse staff at the hospital, and felt he was serving his country and honoring our Veterans by taking care of them. Brice's greatest honors were those given him by the many patients that he served with care and compassion throughout his lifetime.

He is survived by his wife Karen of the home, 3 children Erik (Tiffiny) Leon of Topeka, Justyn (Kari) Leon of Manhattan, and Sean Leon of Litchfield Park, Arizona; 4 grandchildren, Bryson Leon, Jillian Leon, Angel Zelazny and Madeline Gleason; parents, Eugene and B. Jean Leon, Concordia; 2 brothers, Kelly (Rebecca) Leon, Salina, Stuart (Deanna) Leon, Leesburg, Virginia, and several nieces and nephews. There will be a Memorial Service at the First Presbyterian Church, 7th and State, Concordia, Kansas, on September 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm. Inurnment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery, Norway, Kansas. There will be a Celebration of Life Service at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4746 SW 21st Street, Topeka, Kansas on October 1, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.. Memorials may be given to Midland Hospice Care, and Belleville-Concordia Presbyterian Parish, c/o First Presbyterian Church, Concordia, and Trinity Presbyterian Church, Topeka.