Leander D. Kellogg

Leander Don Kellogg, loving husband to Gabby Kellogg and father to his remarkable children Caleb (16) and Brynn (13), passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at the age of 50 after a two-year courageous battle with cancer. Leander was born in Bitburg, Germany where his father was serving in the United States Air Force. He graduated from Moreno Valley High School in Moreno Valley, California, and he then demonstrated his love for learning by attending more colleges than most people do restaurants. During his undergraduate years he attended Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, and Western Michigan University where he received his undergraduate degree in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing. Later, he received his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and his Doctorate in Public Affairs from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was completely brilliant, and this was largely why Gabby fell in love with him. He spent five years teaching high school and then eleven years teaching at the university level. Most recently, he was a tenured professor at the University of North Georgia where he taught a variety of classes such as American Government, Leadership Theory, and Public Budgeting. He loved teaching, and he was good at it. Among it all, he was relentlessly committed to educating others--and educating himself—about racial inequality, public policy, and how to create positive change.

Leander was filled with love, compassion, genuineness, laughter, and a sneaky competitive spirit. If you mentioned an interest that he knew little about, he would commit to learning about it before he saw you again so that he could have a closer connection with you. This was particularly true with his family. From theatre to football, if his kids or wife was into it, he was into it. He absolutely loved to see his family happy, even if that meant allowing Brynn to do his hair in ponytails and hair clips or agreeing to taste test her mysterious kitchen concoctions. And if the entire family wanted a good laugh, they would turn on Home Alone. Even though he had watched the movie many times, during each viewing he would erupt in laughter at the exact same parts, resulting in watching him being even funnier than watching the movie. His love for movies further demonstrated the diversity of his personality, as he equally favored both Pride and Prejudice and Fast & Furious (especially #7), which reflected his love for books, history, and a good car race! His competitive spirit was demonstrated clearly to the family when he and Brynn were about to lose in the race home from church. Gabby and Caleb turned into the driveway; Leander cut through the front yard and beat them to the garage!

His love for his family and for others was rooted in his love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. In every way, Jesus Christ was the center of Leander’s life. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the age of 19 Leander chose to serve a mission and was called to Omaha, Nebraska to teach the gospel for two years. He returned to faithfully and valiantly serve in his local congregation in many ways, most of which revolved around the church’s youth program. Leander loved the youth. Even though sleeping outdoors in 28-degree weather was not something he enjoyed, Leander never missed a youth campout, particularly because he really enjoyed spending time with Caleb. Despite the fact that he never trained for it (even though Gabby told him to), he attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail as a chaperone for the youth, and he paid for it dearly. Furthermore, whether it was a ride to work or sports practice, an event that needed a chaperone, or someone to pick up the boys at midnight from the movie theatre, “Daddy K” was always eager to do it.

Although he had a unique dedication to the youth, Leander’s heart sought to serve every person he ever met. It is only natural that the Lord called him to lead his congregations by serving in multiple bishoprics, and that he was the bishop in the Sandy Springs Ward at his passing. When he was diagnosed with cancer, many people expected him to decrease his involvement in church leadership. He responded with, “Why would I do anything else right now than serve the Lord?” And serve he did! He was counseling, serving, and reaching out to members of his church and community through his last days on this earth. And knowing Leander, he is still praying for all of us and trying to think of ways he can help us from the other side.

Leander was the epitome of humility. He was a person who recognized what is most important in this life, never appeared tempted to hold too tightly to the things of this world, and always sought to learn, change, and grow—and help others to do the same. He loved Gabby and their children with a deep, endless, fierce love that is among the most unique and authentic this world has witnessed. He genuinely cared for everyone, judged no one, actively sought ways to serve others, and was known by all as the “the nicest guy ever.” May we learn from him, become better people because we knew him, and honor his life by dedicating ourselves to what mattered most to him: service, family, and Jesus Christ.

Leander is survived by his wife Gabby, his son Caleb, his daughter Brynn, his parents Melvin Lee and Penny D. Kellogg, and his siblings Carrie Hernandez, Dameon Kellogg, and Christopher Kellogg.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6449 Glenridge Drive NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate to a fund for Leander’s children, Brynn and Caleb. You can make a donation via Venmo @KelloggFamilyFund.