Kenneth Joseph Leiker, 81-year-old Vinita resident, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was born on October 13, 1939 in Ness City, Kansas to Philip James Leiker and Antonetta (Wasinger) Leiker.

Ken was a graduate of Ness City High School. He served his country in the United States Army from June of 1957 to March of 1960, as an airplane mechanic. After a brief time as a Washington, D.C. policeman, he roughnecked for Phillips Petroleum before being recommended to drive corporate officials between Bartlesville and Tulsa. His potential was recognized by a discerning executive, and Phillips subsequently sponsored his Accounting Degree at the University of Tulsa. He went on to a 30-year career working for Phillips, Cities Service and lastly Occidental Petroleum Company.

Ken retired to Alaska, where he took cooking classes and prepared meals for scout troops and fishermen. He also drove school buses and worked on the Iditarod Trail. He was lured back to Oklahoma in 2001 and settled in Vinita, where he volunteered in the community. Ken loved the outdoors, music and dancing, and following the Vinita Hornets sports teams. He studied church history and theology, and was a member of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Vinita, where he sang in the choir.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents and six of his siblings.The family includes: his sisters, Edna Brown, and Mildred Koob, both of Wichita, Kansas, brother, Ronald Leiker of Orinda, California; children, Kevin Leiker and wife Mariangie of Melbourne, Florida, Alan Leiker and wife Anna of Lucas, Texas, Diane Johnson and husband Timothy of Tehachapi, California; four grandchildren, Blake Johnson, Morgan Sethman, and husband Will, Brenna and Adam Leiker; one great-grandchild, Liam Sethman; and his beloved companion of many years, Carol Castor of Vinita.

Friends may give to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Memory of Kenneth.

A private family graveside service will be held on Friday, at the Fairview Cemetery in Vinita, with Father M. E. Cashen officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are under the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita.