Leighton Donald Kor

Beloved husband and father Leighton Donald Kor passed away on November 14, 2021 at his home surrounded by family and friends.

“Slim” Donald J. and “Jeane” Regina (Ohlenkamp) Kor became proud parents of Leighton on December 29, 1962 in Pipestone, MN. On January 13, 1963, he was baptized at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Woodstock, MN. Leighton received his First Holy Communion on May 10, 1970 at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church and was confirmed on March 29, 1976. He proudly walked the halls of Lake Benton High School, being a valued Bobcat football player, voted homecoming king and graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1981. He started his love for banking when he was employed by the Farmer’s State Bank in Lake Benton, MN during the summers of high school and college. He continued to strive at Moorhead State University, graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and minor in Economics and later attending ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

After completing Norwest’s regional credit training program, he accepted a position as a commercial banking officer for Norwest. He then moved to Wayzata, MN where he became a commercial loan officer at First National Bank of Wayzata. In 1988, he moved to Colorado Springs and accepted a position of assistant vice president/account executive for Central Bank. On August 11, 1989, Leighton married his high school sweetheart Elizabeth (Beth) Weber. In 1990, the couple moved to Albert Lea, MN where he was the vice president of Security Bank Minnesota. In 1995, Beth and Leighton moved to Bismarck, ND where he was senior vice president of Starion Bank (formerly known as First Southwest Bank). While in Bismarck, they lovingly welcomed their first child, Kaitlyn, on February 4, 1997. The family eventually moved to Lincoln, NE, where he took a position as a correspondent banker for Wells Fargo and on January 27, 2000, they welcomed their son Johndon. In 2003, the family moved to Ankeny, IA and made friends to last a lifetime. He was vice president and senior relationship manager for Wells Fargo. Leighton rounded out his career at Highland Bank in Bloomington, MN – which led the couple to make their final return to Iowa to reunite with family and friends.

Leighton will forever be remembered as a loyal friend who loved to give. Known as Mr. Christmas and Thanksgiving, he took it upon himself to cook every holiday meal. He never failed to throw an explosive Fourth of July bash.

Leighton enjoyed a good smoke (we’ll leave it at that), drink and loved to entertain – especially in his garage where he always had a plethora of cold beer to offer. He will be remembered for his fierce love of playing golf and when not on the golf course, the golf channel dominated TV viewing as well as watching football - his favorite teams being the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Gophers and Iowa State – but mostly for his wife and children. His love of music never shifted, constantly blasting country and classic rock. Having a huge, sweet tooth, he always ordered dessert – enough to share with everyone at the table.

Leighton is lovingly remembered by his wife of 32 years, Elizabeth (Beth); children, Kaitlyn and Johndon; his mother, Jeane (Ohlenkamp, Kor) Appel; step-father, James Appel; siblings, Lance (Joe Nell) Kor, Jodi (Kor) Lambrecht, Jason Appel, Paulette (Dawn) Appel; nieces and nephews, Owen Appel; god-daughter, Tessa Appel, Leah and Logan Lambrecht.

Leighton was preceded in death by his father, Donald Kor; paternal grandparents, Harm and Verna (Meyer) Kor; maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Monica (Hartman) Ohlenkamp aunt, Darlene (Henry) Sportel and uncles, Darvin and Delbert Kor.

Memorial contributions can be addressed to Ankeny Golf and Country Club, Leighton’s second home,

Blessed be his memory.