Leslie A. Sperling

Mr. Sperling died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, at Hutchinson Hospital.

He was born Sept. 19, 1918, in rural Inman, the son of Cornelius C. and Anna Schmidt Sperling. He graduated from McPherson High School in 1937 and attended McPherson College for a year. He graduated from Kansas University in 1941, and earned a master’s degree in music education from Wichita State University in 1960.

Mr. Sperling served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was employed as coordinator of music in the McPherson school district. He was band director at Inman High School for seven years, Hillsboro High School for a year, and McPherson High School for 25 years. He taught at the Midwestern Music and Art Camp at KU for many years. He retired in 1980, then worked as a crop adjuster and agent for Blakeley Crop Hail.

He was a life member of National Educators of America, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, Music Educators National Conference, Kansas Music Educators Assn., American School Band Directors and Kansas School Band Directors Assn. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715, in McPherson, and a member of Elk Lodge 502, McPherson. He was a member of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church in rural Inman and served as a deacon, choir director and Sunday school teacher.

He married Kathryn Ann Esau on April 28, 1946, in Inman. She survives, of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Kathleen Fagerlund of Stillwater, Minn.; a son, Leslie A. Sperling, Lindsborg; a sister, Irene Thiessen, Inman; two grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren and a great-grandson.

Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson, where the family will receive them from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m Friday.

The family suggests memorials to Mennonite Central Committee, sent in care of the church, 43 13th Ave., Inman 67546, or the funeral home, 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson 67460.