Leora Esslinger Leora M. Esslinger, 82, of Greeley and formerly of Sterling, died April 16, 2011, at Bonell Good Samaritan in Greeley. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Peace Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Eugene Zeller officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.

She was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Sumner, Neb., to Mike G. and Eva E. (Warner) Barta.

She was a certified nursing assistant.

On May 21, 1969, she married Elmer R. Esslinger in Hot Springs, S.D.

Mrs. Esslinger was a member of Peace Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Evia Leverington and husband Robert of Kenneh, Mo., Darlene Hoagland and husband Ronald of Greeley, and Bett Cumpston and husband Dennis of Grand Island, Neb.; sons, Richard Burkey and wife Helen of Kearney, Neb., Fred Burkey and wife Shelia of Sterling and Steve Burkey and wife Jennifer of Sterling; brothers, Donald Barta, Harman Barta and Lloyd Barta, all of Lexington, Neb.; sister, Dorothy Linder of Cozad, Neb.; 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Esslinger was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Esslinger in 1982; sisters, Mildred Stiner, Martha Root, Edna Dewey; and brothers, Chester, George, Ed, Frank and Francis Barta.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Northern Colorado, 2726 W. 11th Street Rd., Greeley, CO 80634.