Zita M. (Zengel) Leiker, from Dayton, Ohio, died on October 8, 2026, at the age of 95, while trying to recover from a respiratory virus. A Dayton native, she was born on July 18, 1931, to the late Adam V. and Elizabeth (Schumacher) Zengel.
She graduated from Saint Joseph Commercial High School in 1949, and worked as a Bookkeeper at the Finke Company for 15 years. Once her children reached school age, she held various part-time bookkeeping positions. Many of these years were spent working with her brothers at the Zengel Construction Company.
Zita married John S. Leiker on April 20, 1963. They had three children together: Suzanne, Jane and Julie.
Zita enjoyed giving her time and talent to her community and The Church of the Incarnation. At Incarnation she taught CCD, was a lector and a eucharistic minister. She spent time as a band uniform mom at Alter High School, led Suzanne's Campfire Girls group, and was involved with her daughters in their classrooms at Incarnation School. She spent 40+ years crocheting baby afghans, baby sweaters and baby hats to donate primarily to Womanline.
Zita is survived by her daughters Suzanne Leiker and Jane Leiker. Her grandchildren Michele Gaines, Grant Lench, Elizabeth (Robert) Soter, and Adam Gaines. Brothers Karl (Connie) Zengel, George (Anita) Zengel, and Adam Zengel, Sister Betty Ann Zengel, SNDdeN, and sister-in-law Charlene Zengel, along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, John Leiker, her daughter Julie Leiker, sister Rosalie (Zengel) Kemper, her brother John Zengel and many friends.
She will be remembered dearly as the kind, loving mother and grandmother that was forever present in our lives, helping each of us in any way she could.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton, OH 45459. A funeral mass will follow on Thursday, October 22,2026, at 10:30am at the Church of the Incarnation, 55 Williamsburg Lane, Centerville, OH 45459. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1625 Calvary Ave, Dayton, OH 45409.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Elizabeth’s New Life Center.
