Frank Joseph Leibham passed away in Arlington, TX on 7 March 2023, taking his last ambulance ride as a retired EMT. Viewing services will be held on Friday, March 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home in Quinter, KS. Funeral mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Chuch in Collyer, KS, Father Charlie Steiner presiding on Saturday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m with interment following at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery.
Frank Leibham was the first child of three, born on 29th November 1935 in the Catholic village of Selz, South Russia (present day Limanskoje, Ukraine) to ethnic German parents, Josef and Emma (Scherr) Leibham. He spent his first 8 years growing up along the Black Sea in this German-Russian community before emigrating to West Germany.
Caught in the outbreak of WWII, Frank Leibham trekked with his family by covered wagon to Warthegau, German occupied Poland on 25th March 1944. In September 1944 Frank’s father, Josef Leibham was drafted into the German Army and ended up a prisoner of war (POW) in Siberia, Russia. In February 1945 Frank emigrated with his mother, brother, Peter and aunt, Helena Leibham from Poland to Weenzen, Niedersachsen, Germany. While living in Germany, he attended school; delivered ice blocks by bicycle in exchange for cigarettes and ice cream; helped his mother in the sugar beet fields; and worked as a bricklayer apprentice.
Frank’s family could not afford to come on their own to the U.S., so the Catholic Church and family helped them. At the age of 16 he immigrated with his mother and brother, Peter, on 26th December 1951 aboard the General S. D. Sturgis traveled from Bremerhaven, Germany and arrived in New Orleans, LA. They traveled by train to Collyer, KS where they lived with his mother’s cousins, Bernard & Edith Scherr, as indentured servants working on the Scherr farm. He attended the 2nd semester of 8th grade and his freshman year of high school in Collyer, KS before dropping out to help support his family.
Frank moved with his mother and brother to Quinter, KS in October 1954. He was drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces on 13th February 1960 where he proudly served in the 4th Infantry Division while in boot camp and the 3rd Infantry Division during the remainder of the two years he served his country. He attained the rank of E-4 corporal and received an honorable discharge on 13 February 1962. On 12th March 1968 he became a naturalized American citizen.
Frank was a car lover, who accelerated into adulthood racing them. His 1st car was a 1931 Ford Model A, which he bought for $25 in 1954. On 9th September 1961 in Collyer, KS he was united in marriage to Martha Ziegler at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He welcomed four children and celebrated 61 years of marriage with his wife.
Frank had many professions during his life. In 1961 Frank Leibham began a career with Midwest Energy, after 36 years he retired as lineman in Quinter, KS. He was one of the original members of the Quinter Volunteer Ambulance Service formed in 1972 and was an active member until 2008. He served on the Quinter School Board for 8 years and the Quinter Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years, being Fire Chief from 1987 to 1991. He served on the Quinter City Council from 1995 to 2001. He was named Quinter, KS Citizen of the Year in March 2000. In July 2008 Frank and his wife, Martha relocated to Arlington, TX to be near family.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Wendelin Josef Leibham (1942), maternal grandmother, Elisabeth (Schumacher) Scherr (1945), father, Josef Leibham (1985), mother, Emma (Scherr) Leibham (1996), and brother, Peter Joseph Leibham (2020).
He is survived by his wife, Martha; four children, Joseph (Linda) Leibham, Medicine Lodge, KS; James (Patricia) Leibham, Mansfield, TX; Judy (Doug) Ehrhardt, Arlington, TX; and Jeff (Janella) Leibham, Salina, KS. Thirteen grandchildren, J.J. Blackwill, Carroll, IA; Clancy Leibham, Garden Plains, KS; Roxie Ayres, Galva, KS; Kendra Rouse, Frisco, TX; Kristina Pavlovic, Salt Lake City, UT; Marty Leibham, Medicine Lodge, KS; Katie Kasdorf, Nashville, TN; Daniel Ehrhardt, stationed in Japan; Caleb Ayres, Salina, KS; Laura Landwehr, Sharon, KS; Nicole Johnson, Arlington, TX; Nathan Leibham, Medicine Lodge, KS; and James Leibham II, Mansfield, TX; and 20 (soon to be 23) great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. All held him in the highest regard and loved him dearly.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heritage of Our Forefathers (St. Michael’s Church, Collyer, KS) or the Quinter Ambulance Service.