Funeral services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison KS with Rev. Nick Marsh and Rev. Michael VanVelzer officiating. Burial will follow in the Nortonville Cemetery, Nortonville, KS.  The family will receive friends from 10:00am until time of service on Tuesday at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Saint Jude’s Hospice, the Nortonville United Methodist Church, or the Wounded Warriors and may be sent in care of the funeral home.  Condolences to the family may be left online at  HYPERLINK "http://www.beckerdyer.com" www.beckerdyer.com.

 

Leona was born on March 15, 1919 in Athol, Kansas the daughter of George and Emma (Suchsland) Windscheffel. She graduated from Gaylord High School, Gaylord, KS. in 1937. She attended Hebron College in Hebron, NE., and then graduated from Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, Kansas City, Mo. in 1942.  Leona served as a Second Lieutenant and worked as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse’s Corp from 1944-1946. Upon returning home she worked for a short time as a private duty nurse, and then worked as Public Health Nurse for City of Atchison from 1946-1949.  She worked with her husband and owned and operated the Gigstad Fertilizer and Agriculture Company.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Nortonville, was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Nortonville, was a member of a Pinochle Club and enjoyed crocheting, canning and especially her grandson.

 

She was married to George Oliver Gigstad on Dec. 28, 1947.  Mr. Gigstad preceded her in death on April 5, 2010. Survivors include a son, Dwight (Shawn) Gigstad, Nortonville, KS., two daughters, Katherine A. Gigstad, Platte City, MO., and Patricia L. Gigstad, Nortonville, KS., a grandson, George Oliver Gigstad, II, Nortonville, KS. and several nieces and nephews.  Her parents, husband George, a brother, Arno Windscheffel, and two sisters, Gertrude Motter, and Esther Rowles preceded her in death.