John Mitchell Leeper

John Mitchell Leeper, age 72, of Versailles, MO passed away Friday, September 1, 2023, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO after a 17 month struggle from injury and illness.
He was born November 2, 1950, in St. Louis, MO, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, a son of Robert W. and Selma (Old) Leeper and later step-father Arley Kelle. He was third in a line of six siblings.
John was baptized December 3, 1950, at All Soul's Catholic Church in Overland, MO, then received his first communion on May 11, 1958, at St. William Catholic Church in St. Louis.
He graduated from Hazelwood High School, Hazelwood, MO, in 1969. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force but was honorably discharged early for health conditions.
In 1970 he married Eugenia Salyer from which three children were born. Following their divorce, John married Ruth Roland Siegel Leeper on July 13, 1985, who brought three children to the union.
In addition to his wife, Ruth, survivors include his children and spouses: Tom (Jenny Cooper) Leeper; Becky Siegel (Aaron) Cooper; Jimmy (Sanam Kittikuhlsingh) Leeper; Jill Siegel Newton; Tim (Erica) Leeper; and Matthew (Carolyn) Siegel. His grandchildren include Sidney and Isaac Leeper; Vyra, Carly and Marin Cooper; Seth (Brahya), Logan and Paige; Grace and Myles Leeper; Cole Griffith, Nolan and Emma Siegel and one great-granddaughter, Harper Newton. His siblings are Judy (Larry) Sparks; Bob (Barb) Leeper; Don (Detlef) Walenter; Jan (Roger) Pointer and Jerry Leeper. He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, Kenneth and Venona Roland.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, September 24 at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home with visitation at 1 p.m. and memorial service at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Versailles City Park, 104 N. Fischer or Versailles Community Betterment, P.O. Box 301.