Stann Leff, age 80, went home to heaven on September 29, 2026. He was born on July 21, 1946, to Reverend Donald and Doris Leff in Holdrege, Nebraska. His big sister Sharon watched out for him from the beginning. Stann prayed with his mom to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior as a young boy. He loved growing up as a pastor's kid, teasing Sharon, and delivering papers on his bike. Friends were more fun than school, but he still did well in school. When old enough, he worked in his uncle's grocery store, which grew into a lifelong love of retail.

Stann graduated from Holdrege High School in 1964 and went to Trinity College in Chicago, IL. While visiting his sister before he became a student he met a girl named Gloria Gustafson who noticed his kind, fun-loving manner. By the next year they were serving together on the social committee and soon started dating. They would marry two years later in Gloria's hometown of Carney, MI, in the year 1967.

Stann finished his degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska where he became a lifelong Cornhusker fan, wearing red on every game day. He started working in management for Osco Drug in Kankakee, IL. While there, Stann and Gloria welcomed their first daughter, Cheryce. Stann was transferred to Iowa and then Illinois with his young family, and soon their second daughter Camille was born. They loved their involvement in the Naperville Evangelical Free Church while raising their young family. Stann stayed with the Jewel Osco Company until he left to join May Department Stores in Cleveland, OH, in 1985. His family enjoyed attending Alistair Begg's church and living in the quaint town of Chagrin Falls. He excelled in his role of VP of Human Resources and soon was called to move to Portland, OR. There, the family loved time spent on the Oregon Coast, at Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge and made many friends both at work and church. Stann and Gloria loved hosting the church singles' ministry in their home. From there, work brought them to Saint Louis, MO; Pasadena, CA; and back to Naperville, IL, where he worked in Human Resources for Montgomery Ward and watched his daughters get married. Stann and Gloria continued the moves, going back to Portland, OR, then Minneapolis, MN, and finally to Wheaton, IL, in 2005 to be involved in the lives of their seven grandchildren and care for Stann's aging parents. In the meantime, Stann served on the Cassia Board for retirement homes for 25 years. In Wheaton, Stann was a personal life coach for pastors and missionaries and was on the mission board of Business Professional Network helping impoverished people groups start businesses around the world. Stann and Gloria became involved at College Church, with a season of ministry at Calvary Memorial in Oak Park, where Stann served as Executive Pastor. They returned to College Church in 2014, and developed a ministry of discipleship for college students in their home. Stann also served as the Executive Director of God Centered Life with Pastor Josh Moody. Stann's desire in life was to serve the Lord by encouraging young men to be faithful in their lives and ministry.

Stann loved the Lord and his family with all his heart. Church small group involvement was a high priority for Stann and Gloria. His greatest joy was being husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and mentor. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events and family dinners, games, and times together. He also delighted in chunky peanut butter on his breakfast banana muffin, holes-in-one in mini golf, and teasing those he loved. He kept his sense of humor and ability to beautifully pray over the family until the end of his earthly life. 

He is survived by his wife Gloria; his daughters Cheryce (Mark) Berg and Camille (Jeff) VanDixhorn; his grandchildren Ben (Izzie) VanDixhorn, Josh (Grace, fiancée) Berg, Megan (Harrison) Bach, Ryan (Jacki) Berg, Jack (Grace) VanDixhorn, Luke Berg, and Lily VanDixhorn; and his great-grandchildren Hudson Berg, Millie VanDixhorn, Briggs Bach, Annabelle Berg, and baby VanDixhorn due in January; his sister Sharon Conrad, brother-in-law Ken Gustafson, sister-in-law Joyce (Milo) Nelson; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers-in-law Arnold Conrad and Robert Gustafson, and his sister-in-law Elaine Gustafson.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 5, at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Avenue, Wheaton, IL, from 9:30 am until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 am. 

Memorial Gifts may be directed to the Bible-teaching ministry of God Centered Life. Condolences may be sent to Gloria at her new address after October 7: 14595 W. Rockland Road, #309, Libertyville, IL, 60048. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6