Ed F. Lietzke

Ed Frank Lietzke 84, of Sterling passed away Saturday, April 4, 2026. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday, May 27 at Halouska Family Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling. All friends are invited to attend and share any memories and stories about Ed.

Ed was born June 21, 1941, in El Dorado, Kansas and passed away unexpectedly April 4, 2026, at Banner Medical Center in Greeely, Colorado at age 84. The son of Ralph E. and Lois Courcier Lietzke, Ed grew up in the small community of Haverhill, Kansas. He attended high school in Augusta, Kansas, graduating in 1959. After high school, Ed received a bachelor and later master’s degree in education from Emporia State Teachers College. Ed taught for many years in western Kansas, primarily in Copeland, Kansas well as several other small Kansas high schools.

After a brief break from teaching, Ed built his own restaurant in Copeland. He later spent time working as a geologist in the Oklahoma and Texas oil fields. Eventually, he returned to his first love, teaching American history and American Government to high school students in Sterling, Colorado. He was passionate that young people understand American history and the constitution. Ed also served as athletic trainer at the Sterling high school.

At a very young age, Ed developed a lifelong interest in astronomy, space exploration and photography. Ed built his own telescope at age 17 and spent hours watching the stars and planets. His siblings, friends and neighbors enjoyed countless hours of star gazing.

After retiring from teaching, Ed enjoyed traveling, gardening, canning tomatoes, taking his dog Lexus for long walks every day and helping his friends and neighbors any way he could. He loved to drive and enjoyed taking anyone in need of a ride to their destinations.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Lynda Smith, his dear friend Bob Myers and his faithful dog Lexus.

Ed is survived by his sister, Nancy Martin of Farmington, Arkansas along with nephews Chris Conrad of Springfield, Missouri, Reece Conrad of Collierville, Tennessee, and Ryan Smith of Nevada. Also surviving are two nieces, Wendy Conrad of Prairie Grove, Arkansas and Dana Smith-Rosenblum of California.