Elgin Leroy Saunders was born on May 23, 1944, in White Rock, Kansas, to Paul and Vera (Carpenter) Saunders. He died on May 24, 2023, at the North Central Kansas Medical Center, Concordia, at the age of 79 years and 1 day. He was the oldest of three children. He grew up on a farm near White Rock, Kansas, and then moved to the farm north of Courtland. He graduated from Courtland High School in 1963. In high school he participated in football, basketball and track.
On May 23, 1975, Elgin was united in marriage to Linda Youngblood. To this union two children were born, Angel and John. They began their married life near Courtland. They enjoyed camping, fishing, boating with the children on Lovewell Lake, going to auctions and traveling. Elgin always enjoyed time with his grandchildren.
During high school, Elgin helped with the family dairy and worked on the family farm. His family milked cows until 1979. He started driving a tractor when he was 8 years old. After high school, Elgin worked on a neighbor’s farm, irrigating and farming. He thoroughly enjoyed this as he enjoyed being outside. He then learned how to do concrete and masonry work from some friends. For 45 years, he poured sidewalks, laid bricks and cement blocks and formed foundations for many residents in and around Republic County. He took great pride in his work. His grandfather used to say, “If you have the ambition to move a mountain, you can do anything you want to do.”
After Linda’s death on March 30, 2022, he moved to the Sunset Home in Concordia. He was a favorite resident there. Every holiday, Angel decorated his room. He had a candy dish in his room that tempted many to stop by and say hi to him and of course they received his heart-warming smile. He enjoyed it when John came to visit and brought Elgin’s dog to see him. He and Linda both were avid Kansas City Chiefs fans and Kansas City Royals fans. At the home, the staff knew exactly when the Chiefs were playing as they had to make sure that Elgin could find the channel on his TV and on game day he was outfitted with his Chiefs shirt, hat and sweatpants.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Linda. They had been married 46 years.
Elgin is survived by his daughter, Angel (Lucas) Zeller of Paxico, Kansas, his son, John Saunders of York, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Bridgette (Brian) Estrada, Hunter, Ethan, Owen and Lily Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Everleigh; one brother, Duane (Susan) Saunders of Republic; and one sister, Paula (Lonnie) Hoops of Byron, Nebraska, other relatives and many friends.
His funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the United Methodist Church, Courtland, with Pastor Sandra Jellison-Knock, officiating.
Interment will follow at the White Rock Cemetery, rural Courtland.
Friends may call from 1 until 8 p.m., on Friday, at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, where the family will greet friends from 5 until 7 on Friday.
Memorials are suggested to the Elgin L Saunders Memorial Fund
Online condolences at http://www.bach elor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 1322 19th St, Belleville, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.
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