Alene Jean (Leecy) Anderson passed away on February 3, 2023 at Sunrise Senior Living of Overland Park. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas (913)856-7111. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, 138 E. Shawnee St, Gardner, Kansas, followed by a graveside service at Gardner Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Gardner, KS. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com

Alene was born on February 13, 1925 at Wellsville, Kansas, oldest daughter of John C. Leecy and Mildred E. (Langdon) Leecy. Alene’s childhood was spent in the Wellsville, KS area and she graduated from Wellsville Rural High with the Class of 1943. Following graduation, Alene started working at North America Aviation in Kansas City, KS where she was a "Rosie the Riveter” assembling B-25 Mitchells operating her rivet gun for the WWII effort.  

While working in Kansas City, KS she shared a room with another young lady who had a cousin serving overseas in the US Navy.  A US Mail romance was started. After the war ended, Alene flew to Corpus Christi, TX where on November 23, 1945 she married this young sailer, Kenneth H. Anderson. Alene and Ken were married for more than 62 years till his passing in December 2007.

Alene and Ken in 1946 were transferred from Corpus Christi NAS to Olathe NAS and Alene has resided in the Gardner area since. Born and raised of this union were four children who all survive her: Kenneth Lynn (Sue) of Olathe, James William (Donna) of Newton and the twins, Alan Dean (Mary) of Fort Mill, SC and Nancy Jean Brooks (Carl) of Olathe. Throughout her children’s childhood Alene was involved in many school and First Presbyterian Church activities and served as an Elder and Deacon for her church.  Alene was a room mother, PTA member, Bible school teacher, Sunday school teacher and attended many school and church events. Through the years she was also able to attend many of her Grandchildren’s and Great Grandchildren’s activities.

Family was very important to Alene. She has been a parent for nearly 76 years, a grandmother to 8 for 52 years and great grandmother to 15 for 25 years. In 2015 her family celebrated her 90th Birthday where she was very proud that her entire family came to celebrate this milestone with her.

Alene was preceded in death by her parents John C Leecy (1994) and Mildred E. Leecy (1980) and siblings Emma Lou Wiseman (2014), John D Leecy (1949) and Wallace L. Leecy (2016)