Katie Leffler

Katie Marie Leffler was born May 27, 1991, to Daryl and Kathy Leffler. Katie could not wait to enter this world and arrived very unexpectedly at 24 ½ weeks gestation.  She weighed 1 pound 5 ounces, was 12 inches long and was not expected to survive. Proving that prognosis wrong, we were privileged to have her with us for 30 years, 6 months and 6 days until she left this world on Dec. 3, 2021.

Katie had many challenges in her life, due to her extreme prematurity and the complications that came along with that.  She spent her first 4 ½ months in the NICU at Mercy Medical Center getting to come home one month after her due date at just over 5 pounds.  Throughout her life, Katie had many, many medical challenges and was not expected to survive on multiple occasions.  Katie’s will to live and her tenacity were unbelievable. She was a living miracle and the toughest, strongest person we will ever know.

Katie was a character.  Her smile and ornery personality could fill the room.  Anyone who knew her knew her “I don’t like that!” face.  She especially loved roughhousing with her brothers, being read to, listening to music, massages with good smelling lotions, having her head rubbed, being outside, swinging in a wheelchair swing, floating in a heated pool, being tucked in warm and cozy and most of all Katie loved Cheetos!

Katie attended school at Southeast Polk for three years of preschool through second grade. She attended Johnston from third grade through her graduation in 2012.  Katie loved school and especially riding the bus.  She had many wonderful teachers and associates who brought wonderful enrichment and learning to her life.

Katie resided at ChildServe in Johnston for 13 years and then moved to an adult residential setting at the Knapp House of Hope, a part of Mainstream Living in West Des Moines where she has lived for the past eight years.  Throughout her life, Katie was so fortunate to have many exceptional caregivers and therapists and her family is forever grateful for the village of people who impacted Katie’s life as well as her family.

Katie is survived by her parents Daryl and Kathy Leffler of Urbandale, IA, brothers David (April) of Urbandale, IA, Kevin (Jen) of Manning, IA,  sisters Cori Leffler of Urbandale, IA and Lizzy Garcia (Anthony) of El Paso, TX.  Katie is also survived by her six nieces and one nephew, Violet and Evelyn Leffler of Urbandale, Ada, Greta, August and Nora Leffler of Manning and Arianna Garcia of El Paso along with her maternal grandparents, Bill and Norma Mercer of Creston, IA, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends and caregivers who were so important in her life.  Katie joins in heaven her paternal grandparents Francis and Mary Leffler, uncles LeRoy Leffler and Paul Leffler and aunt LeAnn Mercer.

Katie’s family would like to thank MercyOne Hospice for the care she received the last 6 months and ChildServe for the wonderful care she received while living on the continuing care unit.  The family also thanks the staff at Knapp House of Hope. They always provided excellent care to Katie, but for the last seven months of Katie’s life the care she received and the love shown to her was truly remarkable.  Despite the challenges Katie faced all her life, she has been so fortunate to have been blessed by so many caring compassionate people, who truly cared about her.

Katie’s family finds peace knowing that she is no longer limited by the restraints of her earthly body and she is enjoying all the freedoms of heaven.  She will be missed and loved forever.

Services were held on Dec. 11, 2021, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Burial was at the Altoona Cemetery in Altoona.