Celeta Olander Hopkins - LHS Class of 1956

Celeta Marcene Hopkins, 80, went to be with the Lord on October 12, 2018. She passed peacefully at home, lovingly surrounded by family. Celeta was born in Topeka, Kansas on February 21, 1938 to F. Warren and Sally E. Olander. Her family moved to Leavenworth, Kansas when she was quite small and she remained a resident throughout her formative and adult years. 
Celeta graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1956. While in school, she was a member of the choir and sang in the June Bug Jamboree. She did a special solo performance of “If I Knock The L Out of Kelly”, a song she often sang to family and a memory she was proud to share. She was also proud to be Bo Peep in “Babes In Toyland.” She loved singing and watching live performances. After high school, Celeta remained actively engaged with her local classmates and helped plan the class reunions. Celeta was a member and past Honored Queen in Job’s Daughters Bethel 28. Upon graduation, Celeta attended Baker University and pledged Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She moved back home to Leavenworth and after a two year courtship, she married William David Hopkins on April 12, 1958. They were married 55 years until his passing in early 2014. 
Celeta worked throughout her youth at Kresge’s and Jahn’s grocery store, building the foundation for her impeccable work ethic. She started her career at the hospital currently known as Munson Army Health Center on Fort Leavenworth. Family was always very important to Celeta and as she began bringing children into the world, she took a few temporary positions with the Post Engineers, working for the Visitor’s Bureau and Visiting Officers. When she returned to the work force permanently, Celeta became a Publications Clerk for the Command and General Staff College where she remained for 37 ½ years until her retirement. Her work allowed her to interact with many of the departments in the college. She welcomed the incoming students and was able to offer a maternal presence to those young officers who were far away from their families. It was her wish that they never felt alone and her hope that if her own children were far from home, someone would do the same for them.
After retiring from her distinguished years of civil service for the United States Government, Celeta did some traveling with her husband. Branson, Missouri was always a favorite. Memphis and Nashville stood out in her mind as worthy travel experiences as well. Her husband’s unexpected stroke in 2001 rendered her a caregiver for him. She took care of him with great compassion and attentive focus for 13 years.
Celeta was a faith driven, prayerful woman who embodied the Golden Rule she cherished. She loved God, her family and friends. She enjoyed holidays, parties and celebrations of all kinds, infusing them with her genuine joy and enthusiasm. She especially loved birthdays and often called to sing to those she loved on their special day. She always thoughtfully remembered to send cards for special occasions and newspaper clippings when an article mattered to someone she knew. She loved to cross stitch and sew. She often cross stitched very special pillow cases for her family at Christmas which became a beloved tradition. She loved show tunes, plays and musicals, especially Showboat. She had a passion for art and loved drawing, painting and doing block lettering. She loved playing board games and cards. 
Celeta was one of kind, a rare soul who genuinely loved and appreciated every person she met. In her 80 years, she had never said an unkind word about a single soul. 
Celeta is survived by her three children: Debbie Flaspohler, Mark Hopkins (Cindy) and Lisa Hopkins, all of Kansas City; five grandchildren: Ashley Rice (Jeremiah), Jennifer Hill (Michael), Allie Frederes (AJ), Stephen Flaspohler and Brandon Flaspohler; five great grandchildren: Jeremy, Kailey and Aubrey and twin babies, a boy and a girl, who are on the way; and numerous grand pets whom she enjoyed. She is also survived by a beloved cousin Donna (Ken) Phillips, Houston, Texas and close friends, who are more like family, among her many friends. 
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. 
A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, October 22, 2018 at the R. L. Leintz Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Leavenworth. Interment following the service at Sunset Memory Gardens. 
Memorials may be made to the Council on Aging, First United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choosing.

Together ♥♥♥ Forever

William David Hopkins, 77, of Leavenworth went to be with the Lord on February 18, 2014. Mr. Hopkins was born on May 6, 1936 in Atchison, Kan. to William Harris and Edna May (Jacobs) Hopkins. 
He graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1954. Upon graduation he enlisted in the Air Force and was a veteran of the Korean War. In 1958, he married his sweetheart Celeta M. (Olander) Hopkins (LHS Class of 1956), also of Leavenworth. They celebrated 55 years of marriage. Mr. Hopkins entered the insurance sales industry shortly after their nuptials. 
With his ability to communicate and his gift with people, he maintained a career in various areas of sales until discovering a niche for car sales. With his independent spirit and interest in business ownership, Mr. Hopkins started Broadhill Motors in 1968, which he owned and operated for 13 years. An interest in housing led him to building and selling homes of his own design in Leavenworth, ultimately leading him to a love for painting. He became a Paint Crew Chief for the Army Corp of Engineers on Fort Leavenworth in 1985. He retired from this position in 2000. While working for the government, Mr. Hopkins rekindled his life long passion for learning and his initial interests in a college education. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 1989. 
Mr. Hopkins enjoyed an active lifestyle and traveling with his wife until an untimely stroke in 2001 rendered him unable to participate in previously enjoyed activities. His resilience and driving desire to stay engaged in life gave him the strength to meet the challenges he encountered over the 13 years he endured the after effects of his stroke. Family, including his pet family, meant everything to Mr. Hopkins. 
He is survived by his wife, Celeta, his three children, Debbie, Mark and Lisa, five grandchildren: Ashley, Jennifer, Allie, Stephen and Brandon, two great-grandchildren, his sister Marlene Fink (LHS Class of 1952), nieces and his family of friends. 
Visitation will be Friday, February 28 from 6-8 p.m. The funeral will be Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m. Both services to be held at R. L. Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Avenue, Leavenworth, Kan. Interment at Sunset Memory Gardens following the service. Memorials may be sent to The City Union Mission, Meals on Wheels, St. Jude's Children's Hospital or donor's choice.