Gordon Leader

Gordon I. Leader, age 86 of Crofton, Nebraska died on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, November 9, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Constance, Nebraska with the Rev. Marcus Knecht officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in Constance. Visitation will be on Sunday, at church, from 3-5:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday morning one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton.

Pallbearers are Tom Leader, Keith Leader, Randy Leader, Gary Leader, Doug Leader, Randy Johnson, Brian Peitz, Robert Pommer, Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and Eric “T-bone” Wuebben.

Gordon Irvin was born on May 12, 1940 at home, southwest of Constance, to John Francis and Pauline Mary (Meyer) Leader. In 1944, at the age of 4, the family moved to the current farm, east of Crofton, where he worked and enjoyed the rest of his life. He attended elementary school in Constance and then graduated from Crofton High School in 1958. He worked road construction and at the Bloomfield concrete plant before becoming involved in the family farm business with his father. He married Carolyn Ann Kollars on February 7, 1970 in Yankton, SD. They were blessed a “crew” of nine children – Amy, Kim, Brenda, Cheryl, Kristin, Hope, John, Mark, and Sarah. The Leader Angus business celebrated its 50th annual production sale in February of 2022. Gordon will be watching over and guiding the third generation as they continue to prepare for its upcoming sale in February.

Gordon took great pride in teaching his children valuable life lessons including how to operate farm equipment, live off the land, work the cattle, and choose the best sires for his herd. His children fondly remember the many stories he shared over the years and viewed him as being very strong and nearly indestructible. He passed his legacy of hard work, grit, and determination to all of them. Gordon always said he was happy with his life and was content with all he had accomplished in his 86 years. His wife, children, grandchildren, and his Angus herd were a great source of pride and joy until his last day. Gordon has been a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and was a member of its parish council for many years. He enjoyed hunting deer, elk, pheasants, dove and most anything. Fishing, trapping, bowling, and golfing were among his many other hobbies. He was a charter member of the Crofton Golf Course and belonged to the men’s league for many years. Gordon played baseball as a catcher in his younger years. He loved a good card game with family and friends. He and Carolyn belonged to a card club for many years. He was an avid Husker fan along with the KC Chiefs and the Minnesota Twins and had attended many games in person. If he wasn’t out on the farm, you would likely find him in his chair watching whatever sport was on TV at the time. He had all of the sports channels memorized and would likely be switching from one to the next during commercials and halftime.

Gordon is survived by his wife Carolyn of Crofton; his eight children Amy Leader of Nolensville, TN, Kim Leader of Vermillion, SD, Brenda (Doyle Sage) Leader of Yankton, SD, Cheryl Bauder of Scotland, SD, Kristin (Gabriel) Williams of Sioux Falls, SD, John (Natalie) Leader of Ponca, Mark (Hillary Barta) Leader of Crofton, Sarah Leader & (Eric) Pokorny of Harrisburg, SD; 17 grandchildren; three great grandchildren and one on the way; two brothers Roger (Merina) Leader of Bloomfield, Allen (Linda) Leader of Niobrara; four sisters Gladys (Errol) Johnson of Yankton, SD, Alice Pommer of Hartington, Carol Peitz of Crofton, Arlene (Don) Veldhouse of Yankton, SD; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter Hope in 1981; brother Lyle (Lois) Leader; sister-in-law Lois Leader; brother Arlan Leader, brother-in-law Larry Pommer; grandson Jackson Bauder; and son-in-law Patrick Bauder.