Sarah M Leichner

Sarah Maria Leichner entered peacefully into the Kingdom of her Lord on Friday, July 15, just a few weeks before her 89th birthday. At her bedside were her two daughters, Monica Helmke of Spokane Valley, with whom she lived for the past few months, and Marta Leichner-Boyce of St. Augustine, Florida.

Sara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eduardo (Ed) Leichner (2008); her sisters Emma, Frida, Trudy and her brother David. In addition to her daughters, she is survived by her brother Enrique Hornus (Ana), Buenos Aires, Argentina; two grandsons Ryan Helmke (Andrea), Newport OR and Julian Helmke (Lindsey), Edmond OK; great-grandson Edison, Newport OR; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in the US, Argentina and Germany and a vast network of friends around the world. Sarah travelled extensively in Argentina, the US and Europe. She was gregarious and convivial, and seemed never to meet a person she wouldn’t talk to, regardless of station, beliefs, nationality or ethnicity, even if they didn’t speak either her native German and Spanish or her hard-won English. Sarah was born in rural Entre Rios, Argentina on July 31, 1933, the daughter of David and Ana (Heizenreder) Hornus. When she was still a young girl, the family moved to the bright lights of Buenos Aires. It was there, among the glitter and tango halls that she met, fell in love and married Ed Leichner in November 1952.

In 1966, Sarah and Ed, with their two daughters, emigrated to the United States, where they settled in Spokane along with other members of the Leichner clan. They soon joined Gethsemane Lutheran Church in the Spokane Valley, where Sarah remained an active and devoted member the rest of her life.

Although Sarah worked for some years at Jacklin Seed and later at Self-Service Furniture, it was her home, family, and church that were her real calling. She was an avid gardener who grew the most stunning roses. She crafted the most beautiful bouquets to decorate her church’s altar on a regular basis. Even in her last apartment, she found space to grow a rainbow of flowers as well as tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. In the kitchen, she crafted world-class empanadas, gnocchi, and hand cut noodles, among many other delicious dishes. Sarah was well-loved and will be deeply missed by so many.

Visitation at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home, 1400 S. Pines Road in Spokane Valley on July 22 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

Interment will be on July 23 at 9:00 am at Pines Cemetery (1402 S Pines Rd), South side of 16th, Spokane Valley.

Memorial Service will be held July 23 at 10:30 am at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 11315 East Broadway in Spokane Valley.

Donation may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thornhillvalley.com for the LEICHNER family.