Edna E. Greenleaf-Neilson, 95, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Thursday night, February 22, 2024, at Cumbernauld Village.

Born April 14, 1928 in Lowry City, Missouri, she was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Margaret (Woods) Lathrum. She was raised and received her education in Missouri where she graduated from Clinton High School in 1945. She then attended and received a degree from Western Union School in Springfield, Missouri. Edna moved to Winfield, Kansas, to start working for Western Union.

She was united in marriage to John F. Greenleaf on August 1, 1948, at the First Methodist Church parsonage in Winfield.  The couple made their first home in Winfield and moved to Moline in 1950 and to Coffeyville in 1952.  They returned to Winfield in 1963 and in 1968 Edna started her career with Sears. She remained at Sears for 25 years retiring as a Service Manager in 1993. After retiring she became involved with the Grandparent Program at Lowell Elementary School. She loved working with the kids at the school and stayed actively involved with the program for 26 years.   John preceded her in death on November 30, 1998.

She married Earl L. Neilson in 2003. The couple made their home in Pond Creek, Oklahoma. Earl preceded her in death in 2011 and Edna returned to Winfield.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Winfield, the First Baptist Seekers Class, Soroptimist, Good Sam's Campers, and the Flirts and Skirts Square Dance Club. She enjoyed music, reading, camping, baking, square dancing, knitting, crocheting, fishing, going to the casino, and going to the hairdresser once a week. She loved being with her family, especially the grandkids.

Her family includes her children, John A. Greenleaf (Muriel Bernard) of Winfield; Lawrence C. Greenleaf of Hollidaysburg, PA;  Cheryl B. Crow (Jerry) of Winfield; Lisa A. Dewberry of Wichita; Susan E. McBride (Jon) of Wichita; Michael J. Greenleaf (Marissa) of Ankeny, IA; her brother Robert Shaw (Sarah) of Sedalia, MO; her grandchildren, Christopher, Catherine, Dane, Eliza, Alexander, Jessica, Jennifer, Michelle, Ashley, Matthew, Keshia, and Gabe; and her 18 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Edna was preceded in death by a granddaughter Amanda Hostetter Carver, two grandsons David Kafka-Bowman and Joseph Pisano, two brothers, James Shaw and Samuel Shaw, and a sister Skeet Goodwin.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Miles Funeral Service.  Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery.  A visitation is scheduled at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 8 P.M.  The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 that evening.

A memorial has been established in Edna's name for Lowell Elementary School.  Contributions may be made through the funeral home.

Edna's funeral service will be livestreamed at the following link: