Roger Leff

Roger Allen Leff, age 80, of Sioux City passed away on Saturday August 6, 2016 at a local hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday August 12, 2016 at Christy Smith Morningside Chapel with Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8 pm with the family present 6-8 pm and a Prayer Service held at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.
Roger was born in Turin, Iowa on September 3, 1935, the son of Allen Weare and Leona M. (Lyons) Leff. The family moved to Sioux City when Roger was a child. He attended Sioux City Community Schools and graduated from East High School with the class of 1955.
Roger was united in marriage with Benita Rae Bastian on May 26, 1957 at Trimble United Methodist Church in Sioux City. This union was blessed with three children: Kraig, Kevin, and Karla. Roger was a member of the United States Army from 1958-1960.
Following his discharge, Roger worked for a time at the Barker Shoe Store. He then was employed at several different grocery stores , sold life insurance, served as the agent for the Des Moines Register in Sioux City, and finished his full time employment with Orkin Exterminating. Roger served for the past 18 years as a part-time funeral directors assistant with Christy Smith Funeral Homes.
He was a member of the Church of All Nations, the Scandinavian Society and served as an ombudsman for the residents of Westwood Care Center. He was a volunteer at the Senior Center, Siouxland community theatre, and Goodwill of Greater Plains. He enjoyed arranging flowers better known as Flowers by Roger, loved to dance, play cards, 25 years of craft shows, going to the casinos, and just visiting with people. He was received the governor's volunteer award in 2016.
Roger is survived by his wife of 59 years Benita, his two sons, Kraig Leff and his wife Beth of Sioux City, and Kevin Leff and his wife Tammie of Sioux City and his daughter Karla Jalas and her husband Brad of Granville, Iowa. He is also survived by his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, along with many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant sister Barbara Lou.
Roger requested that in lieu of flowers, that memorials in his name be given to his family for a charity to be designated at a later date.