Corrine "Connie" L Leis

GREENVILLE - Corrine “Connie” (Monks) Leis, of Greenville, Ohio, formerly of Ansonia, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. She was born on Oct. 29, 1929, the day of the great stock market crash.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 64 years, John, whom she married on April 25, 1948. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Anna Meredith Lyons; her stepfather, Chalmer Huffman; and Chalmer’s sister, Norma. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1947 and then completed business school in Dayton.

Although they were natives of Darke County, that didn’t stop Connie and John from traveling around the entire world. They were passionate about traveling and visiting new places, seeing new cultures. They were lifelong members of the International Flying Farmers (IFF) and the Ohio Flying Farmers, an organization of farmers who fly their own airplanes. They owned several different planes during their marriage and flew extensively for both the IFF and personal pleasure.

Connie was a strong Darke County woman. She never met a stranger. She always loved talking to people and being known around the community. She was a supportive farm wife and partner with both their farming operation S & J Farms Ltd. with their youngest son Steve, and their farming legacy John L. Leis Farms Inc. Both John and Connie loved farming and were committed to continuing their farming efforts past their lifetimes.

In addition to farming, Connie was instrumental in other business venues such as their fertilizer business, Leis Chemical Company, a motel in Richmond, Indiana, and Leis Realty, which John and his nephew, Don Leis, founded together in 1975. She was also an active member of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) organization. During her time as president of the BPW, she was instrumental in scheduling Lowell Thomas for one of their functions, where he was honored for being a famous Darke County resident.

Connie was very family-oriented. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and John enjoyed being snowbirds for many years in Winter Haven, Florida. Being a true Darke County resident, Connie naturally loved going to the Great Darke County Fair! Especially important was that Connie loved the Lord and was a lifelong member of the Ansonia First Church of God. A bright spot in her later years was her fiancé, Carl Shoop. She truly enjoyed his companionship, and he was a precious addition to the family.

Connie was a fighter until the very end. She suffered a massive stroke at her home on Tuesday, July 12, and was transported to Miami Valley Hospital where she passed away on Sunday, July 17. A worker at the hospital told the gathered family that Sunday night that Connie must have a wonderful legacy to have so many people there who cared about her. Her entire family was blessed by her for 92 years. Connie’s impact will be felt for generations to come.

Connie is survived by her three children, David (Connie J.) of Greenville, Susan (Dean) Butts of Greenville, and Steven (Jan) Leis of Ansonia; nine grandchildren Darren (Staci) Leis of McKee, Kentucky; Denea (Brian) Collier of Vandalia; Cara (Paul) Mazur of Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Alisa (Stuart) Beisner of Ansonia; Ryan (Kurstin) Butts of Marysville; Stephanie (Joshua) Garling of Columbus; Robert and Nicole Leis of Ansonia; and Chelsea (Pat) Mullen of Indianapolis, Indiana. She is also survived by her 10 great-grandchildren: D’Artagnan, John, Abygail, Darren Jr. and Annebeth Leis of McKee, Kentucky; Knox, Bryce and Toby Collier of Vandalia; Evelyn “Evie” Butts of Marysville; and Serenna Beisner of Ansonia. She is also survived by her fiancé, Carl Shoop of Greenville.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 30, at 11 a.m. at Ansonia First Church of God, 750 South Main, Ansonia, with Rev. Alisa Beisner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home in Greenville on Friday, July 29, from 6-8 p.m., as well as Saturday from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ansonia First Church of God or the ministry Time to Revive, #161A, P.O. Box 835943, Richardson, Texas, 75083. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.zecharbailey.com.