Kaleen E Lieck
Kaleen Lieck Obituary
Kaleen Elixson Lieck passed away on Tuesday, March 3rd. She was born October 21, 1932 in Dallas, TX to Philip and Mary Elixson. She grew up in Brownsville, TX where she met and later married the love of her life, Hugh Clayton Lieck. She was a dedicated mother to her two sons, Hugh Philip Lieck and Paul Lieck. Her son Hugh and his wife Pam cared for Kaleen in their Kingsville, TX home during the later years of her life. Kaleen was a fun-loving grandmother who found boundless joy in her twin granddaughters, Lauran and Kaitlin, who knew her as “Granny”.
Mrs. Lieck graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Tx. in 1953. In 1983 she received her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She loved teaching and dedicated many years to the students of Brownsville. Kaleen completed her career at Hanna High School where she was head librarian. She was an avid equestrian and big John Wayne fan who loved to read, especially a good western novel. The love of animals was one of her passions. As a lifelong environmentalist and nature lover, she firmly believed in responsible family planning and at one time worked as a volunteer Family Planning educator for Planned Parenthood of Brownsville. Her love of nature also led her to be a founding member of the Docent Society at the Gladys Porter Zoo, eventually serving as president of the society. She continued as an active docent until her health prevented it. She was a member of the Brownsville Junior Service League, The Daughters of the American Revolution, and a longtime member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent.
Kaleen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Hugh Clayton Lieck, parents Philip and Mary Elixson, her sister Marylyn Elixson Burns and brother-in-law Jim Burns, sister-in-law MaryAnn Lieck and brothers-in-law Robert Lieck and Don Crockett.
She is survived by two sons and their wives, Hugh and Pam Lieck of Kingsville, TX, Paul and Diane Lieck of Tega Cay, SC and two granddaughters, Kaitlin Lieck of New York City, NY and Lauran Lieck Sellers of Charleston, SC, as well as 6 nieces and 4 nephews.
The family is grateful to Kaleen’s in-home caregivers; Yvette Thomas, Norma Adrian and Linda Durbin, for their loving attention.
A funeral will be conducted at the Episcopal Church of the Advent at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14th, followed by a graveside service at Buena Vista Cemetery and reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Kaleen’s memory would be welcome.
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