Harry Leroy Leid's Obituary
Harry Leroy Leid, age 88, of Oakland, California, passed into heaven on Saturday, September 30, 2017 while attended by his beloved wife and family.
Harry was born on August 5, 1929, in Gibsonburg, Ohio, to James L. Leid and Elizabeth Lucille Leid, the youngest of four brothers, James Leid, Robert Leid and Donald Leid.
Harry grew up during the depression, learning to work hard, was an Honor Boy Scout, set a state track record (that remained unbroken for years) and played basketball all through high school, graduating from Gibsonburg High School in 1948.
Harry served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a Cryptographic Technician from 1948 to 1950. He met his bride, Katherine E. Adams (Kay), while serving in Spokane, Washington, and they were married in July 1950. They both attended Northwest Bible College, where Harry graduated in 1954 with a BA in Religion, Minor in Missions, and their first child Christopher Jay was born.
Harry was ordained by the Assemblies of God Northwest District 1956, and with Kay served as pastors in South Bend, Washington, at the Makah Indian reservation, Neah Bay, and then Burlington, Washington, until 1961. During these years, their daughters Nanette Kay, and Elizabeth Jean Leid were born.
Appointed as Foreign Missionaries in 1961, Harry and Kay served in Indonesia from 1963 to 1972, at the Minahasa School of Theology, where their fourth child, Stanley Roy, was born.
Returning to the USA, Harry & Kay served on staff and lived at the Home of Peace of Oakland from 1972 to 1975. They then opened the East Bay Rehabilitation Project in Downtown Oakland, a 34 bed live-in program for alcoholics and ran the Bay Area Full Gospel Mission holding a nightly chapel and serving a meal 6 nights a week for the next 20 years.
At 65, Harry “retired” and headed to Laos with Kay, to teach doctors, dentist & staff English at the Medical University in Vientiane for 2 ½ years. The Leids then pastored at the International Christian Assembly (ICA) in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia for 6 years and then at Agape, Taipei, Taiwan for another 6 ½ years. Returning to the USA at age 82, Harry and Kay lived in Oakland, California, continued to serve in various ways, making several trips back to Asia.
Everywhere Harry and Kay served, they were beloved by everyone. Known for his stories, “Harryisms” and droll “Harry jokes”, Harry was considered to be a wise and kind man by family, friends and associates alike. He was humble, yet also a great administrator, organizer, and prolific writer of short inspirational sermonettes. Harry’s love for God was clearly demonstrated through his actions to all those around him.
Now rejoicing in heaven, Harry is survived by his loving wife/lover/best friend of 67 years, Katherine Esther, his children, Christopher (Dana) J Leid, Nanette (Demetrio Jr.) Andino, Elizabeth (Don) Pearson and Stanley(Monica) Leid, his grandchildren, Shannon (Chase) Blake Penman, Christopher Leid, Sean (Judy) Leid, Demetrio Andino III, Dominic (Shannan) Andino, Elizabeth (Matt) Giusti, Chanel Brown and great grandchildren, Brandon, Isla, Gabby, Haleyanne, Ricki, Emma, KayLynn, Marlee, Judah, Pandora, Sasha, Kule, and Ella and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Convoy of Hope,www.convoyofhope.org or the charity of your choice.
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