Leland C. "Lee" Mossman, 93, of Grand Island, NE died Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at Heritage at Sagewood in Grand Island.  Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, March 3, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church.  The Rev. Charles L. Torpey and Rev. Mark A. Maresh will concelebrate the funeral mass assisted by Deacon William Buchta.  Interment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.  Visitation will be Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 4 – 6 p.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Lee's obituary.  Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Leland "Lee" Mossman was born September 4,1931, in Brussels, Illinois in Calhoun County, the son of Carl and Louise (Telkamp) Mossman. He grew up with his 8 brothers and sisters on an apple and peach orchard, called Sunset, on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Lee was proud to have held only three jobs his entire life: working on the orchard his dad Carl managed, serving in the U.S. Army in Alaska during the Korean War, and working for the Russell Miller Grain Company in Alton, Illinois, which was later named Peavey Grain Co. (later Conagra). He moved from Alton, Illinois in 1968 to Kearney, Nebraska to manage the Peavey elevator there. Then he moved to the Peavey elevator in Grand Island in 1975 and back to Kearney in 1987 to become the Operations Manager of all the Peavey grain elevators in Nebraska. After retiring in 1993, after 42 years of service, they moved back to Grand Island, where he could be close to his two daughters, Cindy and Terri and their families and his caretaking nurse granddaughter, Vanessa.

On June 9, 1956, Lee married Elizabeth "Betty" Shea of Jerseyville, Illinois, who he met at a "Broom Dance". Betty and Lee celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in June of 2024. To this marriage, Betty and Lee were blessed with six children: Cathy White (Bob), Cindy Beran (the late Doug), Mark (Mitzi), Larry (Kathy Maxey), Steve, and Terri Beck (Steve).

In his younger years, Lee enjoyed bowling and playing fastpitch softball. When his sons were young, he hunted pheasant and quail with them in Greeley County. For several decades, Lee and Betty enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends at their cabin at Harlan County Reservoir. They spent many winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and met many wonderful friends there. Lee and Betty loved to dance and you would find them on the dance floor at all the weddings and special occasions. He enjoyed playing ten-point pitch with Betty, his children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. When playing pitch, Lee was awfully fond of "shooting the moon", which should come as no surprise to anyone that knew Lee.

They were also dedicated to their Catholic faith, as exhibited by their service to both Kearney Catholic and Grand Island Central Catholic, the high schools their children attended. He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus.

Lee's last years were spent holding hands with his beloved wife Betty and spending time with his six children, 17 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and his first great, great, grandchild.

He is also survived by his sister, Jean Rowling of Grafton, Illinois, numerous nephews and nieces (several of whom affectionately called him Uncle Pooch!) and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 7 of his siblings, his brothers-in-law and sisters- in-law and his son-in-law, Doug Beran.

In lieu of flowers, the family plans to establish a scholarship in Lee's name for high schoolers who have worked in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.  Memorials can also be given to Grand Island Central Catholic. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Heritage at Sagewood, who took such wonderful care of Lee the last 4 years and the St. Croix Hospice caregivers, who assisted him in the final months of his life.