Carl Timothy LeafMcPherson, KS

Carl Timothy “Tim” Leaf of McPherson, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2026 at the age of 66.

Tim was born on April 16, 1959 in Santa Monica, California to the Rev. Philip Gerald “Jerry” and Barbara Ann (Thomsen) Leaf. He grew up across the Great Plains, as Jerry served Lutheran congregations in Central City, Nebraska (1960-64); Vandalia, Illinois (1964-69); and Rockford, Illinois (1969-76). Tim completed his senior year of high school in Axtell, Nebraska.

After graduating from Axtell High School in 1977, Tim attended his parents’ alma mater, Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, sang in the choir, and competed for the Runnin’ Swedes cross country and track & field teams. His myriad talents brought him around Sweden on a choir tour and allowed him to set the record for the men’s 5k track race in 1981 that he still holds to this day.

Tim spent the next two years after Bethany living with his parents in Austin, Texas working as an arborist. In 1983, he got a job as the art teacher and high school girls volleyball coach in the Pike Valley School District in Courtland, Kansas. During the summers, Tim went back down south to assist with the youth group for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Austin, where he met his wife Martha in 1989 at a Kirk Whalum concert. The two immediately began a long-distance relationship, until Tim moved down to Austin full-time to teach art at John B. Wynn Elementary School. Tim and Martha married in July of 1992 in her home church of First Lutheran in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

In 1992, Tim was called to the ministry like his father and grandfathers before him. He attended the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago from 1992-1996, where he earned his Masters of Divinity. After graduating, he was then called to Resurrection Lutheran Church in Haysville, Kansas where he became an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Tim spent thirteen years serving this congregation in Haysville, which is no small feat for a pastor’s first call. During Tim and Martha’s time in south central Kansas, they welcomed son, Paxton, and daughter, Maggie, and began to raise their family.

His work with Mosaic (formerly Bethphage Mission), the Haysville Ministerial Alliance, Episcopal Social Services, and serving on the boards of Camp Tomah Shinga and Bethany Home represented his dedication to his communities and the ministry of serving others.

In 2009, Tim received his second and final call to Trinity Lutheran Church in McPherson, Kansas. He spent the past thirty years dutifully instilling the foundation of God’s love in all who sought comfort. Tim was fortunate enough to build strong and lasting connections with both congregations to whom he devoted his ministry.

While Tim faced immense physical struggles in the last two years of his life, his beloved sense of humor never waivered, and his faithfulness in Christ’s church abided.

Tim is survived by his devoted wife of 33 years, Martha, and their children Maggie Leaf of Washington, DC, Paxton Leaf and fiancée Sally Johnson, of Boston, MA.

He is also survived by his sister Karla Leaf of McPherson, KS; his brothers-in-law Mark (Lynne) Barr and Michael (Greta) Barr of Fort Smith, AR; his nieces Lisa (Nate) Wittgren of Elkhorn, NE, Edith (Jake) Stutzman of Beaver Crossing, NE, Hannah Barr of Washington, DC, Abigail Barr of Little Rock, AR, Emily and Ellie Barr of Fort Smith, AR; his nephews Stuart (Louisa) Nickel of Lakewood, CO, Mark Nickel of Omaha, NE, Sam Barr of Fort Smith, AR. In addition, he leaves nine great-nieces and nephews: Lane, Nora, Harvey, June, Ivy, Chip, Raylan, Ridge, and Reese.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Barb and Jerry Leaf, and his sister, Kristin Leaf.

The visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 N Elm St, McPherson, KS. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, with a private burial to be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be given in Tim’s memory to Trinity Lutheran Church with a specific designation to either Trinity, The Mayo Clinic, or Lutheran World Relief.