Dustin Marshall Leochner

Dustin Marshall Leochner of Olathe, KS passed away on Thursday, February 15th, 2024, at the age of 48 after fighting a difficult, painful battle with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Prior to contracting this highly rare and debilitating infection from an unlucky mosquito bite, he lived a very active, meaningful, and impactful life, thus resulting in this lengthy obituary.

He was born on December 17th, 1975. in Goodland, KS to Bob and Shirley Leochner. At the age of three, Dustin, his older brother (Michael), and their parents moved to Hutchinson, KS where Dustin made many fond childhood memories and established his earliest and dearest lifelong friendships. During his youth, he sang in the Kansas Boys Choir, participated in a variety of sports, ran track and cross country, played trumpet, made Eagle Scout, and performed with the Buhler Singers. He additionally managed to find a little time for small town trouble. He graduated from Buhler High School in 1994, and then went to Hutchinson Community College on a music scholarship.

After graduating from HCC in 1996, Dustin attended the University of Kansas. There he earned a bachelor’s degree in middle and secondary education in 1999, followed by a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2004.

Dustin began his teaching and coaching career at Southwest Junior High School in Lawrence, KS where he taught U.S. History and coached boys’ and girls’ basketball from 2000-2004. He then transferred to Free State High School in Lawrence, KS in 2004 to teach A.P. and General U.S. History, Government, and General Psychology. He was the head JV girls’ basketball coach and later became the assistant head varsity boys’ coach. Additionally, he coached track and field, sponsored activity clubs, and facilitated numerous student travel abroad trips. In 2011, Dustin continued to teach social studies and coach track at Free State High School while shifting to coach basketball at Baldwin High School as the head boys’ varsity coach for three consecutive winning seasons.

Dustin left Free State High School and Baldwin High School in 2013 to take a position within the Social Studies department at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, KS. During his time at BVSW, he served as department chair, taught A.P. and General U.S. History courses, A.P. and General Psychology courses, Sociology, and Government. He also was an assistant track coach, head girls’ golf coach, and became the head boys’ basketball coach in 2017. He developed BVSW’s youth Wolf Pup program to teach the fundamentals of basketball and build strong connections with future players with the goal of strengthening the high school program.

His career as an educator and a coach brought Dustin much pride and purpose. His former students, athletes, their families, and his colleagues were an invaluable part of his life. His drive and dedication to teaching and coaching impacted countless people over the years.

As well as being a wonderful teacher and coach, Dustin equally was a wonderful husband and father. He married his wife Therese in 2009 after meeting her in Lawrence, KS and charming her with his quick wit and kindhearted personality. Together, they moved to Olathe, KS in 2011. Their daughter Ava Lucille was born in 2012, followed by their son Kellen Robert in 2017. Dustin wholeheartedly embraced his role as husband and father with much love, patience, hard work, and humor. He and Therese enjoyed spending time together listening to music on their patio, getting together with friends, going on much needed and appreciated getaways, and simply living a meaningful and devoted partnership. As a father, Dustin provided many opportunities and much encouragement for his children to learn and grow. From helping Ava with her music and sports, to letting Kellen be his shadow while doing yard work or house projects,

to spending quality time with both of them while making s’mores in the patio fireplace, he always found meaningful ways to connect with and teach his children. He took immense pride in being a husband and father and devotedly put his family first.

Spending time in nature also was a passion of Dustin’s as he very much enjoyed being an outdoorsman. He often told stories from his childhood about playing outside and camping. Starting in high school, he and his best friends went on annual hunting trips. Two of his most adventurous summers from his young adulthood were spent in Idaho as a whitewater rafting guide. He loved exploring the outdoors with his kids, hiking with his wife, playing golf with his buddies, and of course, tending to his yard and tomato plants.

Dustin is preceded in death by his grandparents, Alonzo and Lucille Leochner, and Victor and Catherine Knipp.

Dustin is survived by his wife, Therese, and their young children, Ava and Kellen of Olathe, KS; his parents, Bob and Shirley of Hutchinson, KS; his brother Michael and sister-in-law Keena of Lee’s Summit, MO; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

The Leochner family would like to thank the dedicated staff of Select Specialty Hospital of Kansas City for the care and compassion shown to Dustin from the time he was admitted to his final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on February 24th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gardner, KS. A brief visitation with the family followed by a rosary will take place at 9 a.m. prior to the funeral service. A private interment will occur at a later date.

The service will be live-streamed from the church through the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZQ1rlDROcpoHxbTUY6t7QQ

*Please bear in mind connection issues do arise and this is always a possibility with live-streaming.

Additionally, future efforts will be made to plan a Celebration of Life in honor of Dustin to take place within the Blue Valley community. All former colleagues, students, athletes, families, and those who would like to celebrate Dustin will be welcome to attend. More details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Dustin’s honor to the Blue Valley Educational Foundation or directly to his family on behalf of his children. (Please see the links below under donations)