Leonard “Leni” Zealand, 63, of Kennard, died Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Fremont Airboat Club, 3159 Big Island Road, in Fremont. Take Broad Street/Highway 77 to Wooden Windmill (do not go to Military Ave.) turn right onto Ridge Road and follow the signs.

Leni Zealand was born May 25, 1950, in Crosby, Minn., to Gordon and Elaine (Hussman) Zealand. He was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended school there.

In 1969, he began working at Western Electric and retired from there in 2001.

On December 26, 1997, he married Sheila Houser in Omaha. The couple met the day after Christmas in 1989, and were married on that day eight years later.

The couple made their home in Omaha. In 2000, they moved to Kennard.

He was a musician his entire life. One of his bands opened for The Mamas and the Papas at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha. He was in several bands in the Omaha area over the years.

He enjoyed airboating and was a member of the Airboat Club in Fremont. He also enjoyed fishing, especially his annual trips to Minnesota where his goal was to outfish his wife. Camping was also a hobby he enjoyed. He was a very social person who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Sheila, of Kennard; daughter Lynn (Dan) Engelke of Gilbert, Ariz.; sons Todd (Jami) Zealand of Omaha and Chad (Michele) Zealand of Omaha; seven grandchildren; father Gordon Zealand of California; brother Gordy Zealand of Omaha; and sister Kaylene Drummond of California.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair is in charge of arrangements.

Published in Omaha World-Herald from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2014

Zealand, Leonard "Leni"

Age 63

Kennard, NE. Survived by his wife of 16 years, Sheila of Kennard; daughter Lynn (Dan) Engelke of Gilbert, AZ; son Todd (Jami) Zealand of Omaha and son Chad (Michele) Zealand of Omaha; 7 grandchildren; father Gordon Zealand of California; brother Gordy Zealand of Omaha; and sister Kaylene Drummond of California.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE GATHERING Thursday, May 1 at 6pm at the Fremont Airboat Club, 3159 Big Island Road, Fremont, NE. Directions: Broad Street/HWY77 to Wooden Windmill (do not go to Military Ave); turn right onto Ridge Road and follow the signs. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~