ST. PAUL — Jane F. Van Leeuwen, 70, of St. Paul died at 4:37 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons. Her death was unexpected.

She was born Feb. 2, 1940, in Piqua to John and Emma (Westerman) Sicka. She lived in Piqua until she moved to Parsons in 1956 at age 16. She attended St. John’s Catholic School in Iola from 1954 to 1956 and graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Parsons in 1958. Following graduation, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Parsons and at the Census Bureau.

She married Charles J. Van Leeuwen on Sept. 3, 1960, in St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua. Following marriage, the couple made their home on the family farm in St. Paul where they have lived since. She managed and cooked at the Osage Hills Country Club in St. Paul from 1975 to 1981, then as a media specialist-library aide at St. Paul High School until retiring in May 2006.

She was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church and its Altar Society, where she served as vice president and secretary/treasurer. She also participated in CCD for 20 years, the American Red Cross for four years and was a Girl Scout leader for six years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, attending sporting and academic activities, embroidery work and working with flowers.

Survivors include her husband, Charlie Van Leeuwen of the home in rural St. Paul; three sons, Kevin Van Leeuwen of Lawrence, Keith Van Leeuwen and his wife, Elaine, of St. Paul, and Kale Van Leeuwen and his wife, Crystal, of Shawnee; two daughters, Karen Van Leeuwen of Erie and Kim Newberry and her husband, Chad, of St. Paul; six grandchildren, Jeremy and Joel Van Leeuwen, Jamie Aday and her husband, Brock, and Kayla, Carly and Clay Newberry; and a sister, Betty McCall of Lowell, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Charles at birth and Gerald Sicka; and a sister, Theresa Scheidmeir.

The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Catholic Church or Prairie Mission Retirement Village. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.