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Crystal Holub

A prayer vigil for Crystal Kay Leasure Holub, 66, who passed away Dec. 7, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, will be 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen.

Visitation with the family will follow until 8 p.m. A celebration of Crystal’s life will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, with interment to follow at the church cemetery in Pilsen. All are invited to a meal provided after the service.

Crystal was born on July 6, 1957, in Manhattan 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 an associate degree in nursing and married James Travis. Two daughters, Jessica Ann and Jean Marie, were born shortly after. After the couple divorced in 1978, Crystal worked for several years as a nurse at Kansas State University’s Lafene Health Center while raising and supporting her daughters.

It was while working at Lafene that Crystal met the love of her life, Tim. He had come 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 were married March 13, 1982, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church. Jessica and Jean served as flower girls.

Shortly after, Tim accepted a job in Wichita, and the family moved to Andale, finally settling in Cheney 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 (and wife Marissa) from Hong Kong and Xuan Tho (and wife Jennifer) from Vietnam.

She enjoyed finding time for home-cooked meals, European dark chocolate, National Public Radio, genealogy, rock collecting, gardening, thrift and antique stores, fresh baked goods, 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 in elementary education from Newman University and her master’s in special education from Wichita State University.

Crystal taught elementary special education in the Wichita USD 259 district, second grade at St. Margaret Mary Catholic school, middle school at Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic School, and high school at Oasis Day School in Marion.

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.

She is survived by her husband, Timothy Mark Holub, and five daughters: Jessica Travis (and son-in-law Jeff Conley) of Pratt, Jean (and Adam) Shriner of St. George, Theresa (and Glenn) Lehman of Hutchinson, Emily Holub of Haysville, and Victoria Holub of Marion.

Crystal and Tim also were loving grandparents to 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family invites you to make a donation in honor of Crystal’s courageous 17-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 may be made at www.jostfuneralhome.com.

Last modified Dec. 14, 2023

 

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