July 6, 1957 - December 7, 2023
Crystal Kay Leasure Holub was born on July 6, 1957 in Manhattan, Kansas to Elden and Sylvia (Helmke) Leasure. She is survived by her husband Timothy Mark Holub and five daughters: Jessica Travis (Jeff Conley) of Pratt, Jean (Adam) Shriner of St. George, Theresa (Glenn) Lehman of Hutchinson, Emily Holub of Haysville, and Victoria Holub of Marion. Crystal and Tim are loving grandparents to thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A prayer vigil will be held at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen, Kansas, at 6pm on Friday, December 15, 2023 followed by visitation with the family until 8pm. A celebration of Crystal’s life will be held at 10am on Saturday, December 16, 2023 with interment to follow at St. John’s cemetery in Pilsen. All are invited to a meal provided after the service.
The family invites you to make a donation in honor of Crystal’s courageous seventeen-year journey with cancer to Victory in the Valley, Inc. in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
Life Story
Crystal Kay Leasure Holub was born on July 6, 1957 in Manhattan, Kansas to Elden and Sylvia (Helmke) Leasure. After moving to Texas for a few years, the family returned to Manhattan in 1963, where Crystal graduated from Manhattan High School in 1975. In 1976, she earned her associates degree in nursing and married James Travis. Two daughters, Jessica Ann and Jean Marie were born shortly after.
When the couple divorced in 1978, Crystal worked for several years as a nurse in the Kansas State University’s Lafene Health Center, raising and supporting her daughters. It was while working at Lafene that Crystal met the love of her life, Tim, when he came to the student health center to have a cut on his hand stitched. Shortly after, a romance blossomed. Crystal’s love of yellow roses began when Tim gave Crystal two yellow roses early in their relationship.
Crystal and Timothy Mark Holub married at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen Kansas, on March 13, 1982 where Jessica and Jean served as flower girls in celebration of their wedding. Shortly after, Tim accepted a job in Wichita and the family moved to Andale, finally settling in Cheney Kansas in 1982. Crystal poured love into her family and with Tim, added three additional daughters - Theresa Diane, Emily Rose and Victoria Lynn.
Crystal also treasured the years she was an exchange student host mother to Sau Ming (Marissa) from Hong Kong and Xuan Tho (Jennifer) from Vietnam. She enjoyed finding time for home cooked meals, European dark chocolate, NPR radio, genealogy, rock collecting, gardening, thrift and antique stores, fresh baked goodies, a trip to the zoo, sewing, crafting, a rousing game of scrabble, and binge-watching quirky British TV shows.
Many years were spent as a Girl Scout leader, Altar Society member and religious education teacher. Crystal looked for any reason to celebrate - from solemn Catholic feast days, to making sure each daughter’s birthday was special. She loved to coordinate holiday family gatherings spanning four generations. Crystal loved family time at the Holub family farm.
When her youngest daughter started first grade, Crystal again pursued higher education and a second career in teaching. She earned her Bachelor’s from Newman University in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Wichita State University. Crystal taught elementary Special Education in the Wichita USD 259 district, 2nd grade at St. Margaret Mary Catholic school, middle school at Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic school, as well as high school at Oasis Day School in Marion county.
In spite of her many years of selfless dedication to special education and her Catholic faith, Crystal’s family, daughters, and grandchildren remain her greatest and proudest achievement.