Curtis James Leiker

Charged with writing this, I struggled to come up with the best words to describe my brother. I thought it was appropriate to start here. He was charmingly curmudgeon. Blunt yet measured. Astute but not overly zealous to expound his knowledge upon the masses. He was, in a word, unique.

Curtis took the best qualities from our parents. He had my mother’s smile and love for social gatherings. He was kind like her and cared for his family deeply, as she continues to do today. For years I misjudged my father’s relationship with Curtis. When my father passed 6 years ago, I came to realize not only how similar Curtis and he were, but how close they had become. The meticulousness of my father was often borne out in separate ways Curtis lived. My father’s love for grilling was certainly a passion Curtis shared. A quick wit and wry if not a bit inappropriate comments and jokes are things the two of them certainly shared. And their love for my mother was undoubtedly the singular thing they jointly cherished.

However, sadly, Curtis shared something with my father which I fear led us to today. He possessed a locked box inside of him where he tucked away his fear, anxiety, emotion, and seemingly overwhelming pain. Both did not believe in outward emotion or the utility in asking for help. My father would come to find a degree of emotion as he faced declining health. But he would absolutely refuse to ask for help. I fear and now loathe not demanding more from my father. Because had I, perhaps we are not here today.

Curtis loved Emilie. He of course would give her a tough time and rarely was easy on her. But even his stubbornness could not keep him from her. They simply were meant to be. I could tell how he felt about her by the way he smiled when she was around. He had this side eye look that I am not sure even he was aware he was giving. And best yet, she flipped him the same $%#@ back that he gave to her. He loved her kiddos, Aiden and Lola. He did not struggle with imparting upon them the lessons we learned from our father, sometimes with the same gruffness our father had with us. Lola in particular pushed Curtis. They were fun to watch. Of course, everyone in my family were on Team Lola when the two of them would battle.

Curtis was Kansas City through and through. Passionate for the Royals and always ready to watch and party when the Chiefs played, he loved this town. His passion for our city matched that of our father. It was special to observe. And it was wonderful for our mother. She could bond with Curtis in this way and it kept Curtis close to her heart.

Finally, but especially important to understand, Curtis loved his friends. He is one of those persons who is a glue that holds friend groups together. Many of his closest friends if not all are those buddies he grew up with. It was uniquely special to me to see him remain friends with those guys. To embrace the uniqueness of them yet the bond they shared growing up in South KC. I privately had comfort knowing he was always being looked out for. One of his close friends shared on this website a moment they recently had when they were inducted into the Center High School Hall of Fame for their State Runner-Up finish in Soccer. The way he described his encounter with Curtis encapsulates the man Curtis was. He described Curtis coming up from behind and embracing him and excitedly greeting him. Curtis was never the one who needed to be front and center. He rarely was the one who ran the show. But he always, always showed up. He supported. He cared. For no reason other than he was Curtis, he was that dude in the room everyone was happy was there.

Curtis is survived by his family, Emilie Haynes and her children, Aiden and Lola, along with her parents. By our mother, Janet Leiker and my family, including my boys, Maxim and Vitaly, and my love, Amiee Ford and her children, Logan and Lauren. Curtis also will eternally have the love of our extended family in Ness City, Kansas and those who have made their homes across Kansas and our country. I know all of us share a strong love for Curtis and hope that he is resting in peace.