Leo Fred Chubb was born on January 4, 1929, in rural Sioux County, Nebraska on the family farm. His parents were Henry Fred and Mary Ellen (Saxton) Chubb. Leo passed away on March 20, 2023, at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance.
Leo attended Crawford Elementary School and graduated from Crawford High School. During his high school years he excelled in football, basketball and track. He often shared stories of Veteran’s Day football with rival school Chadron. He also held a high school high jump record for over 50 years at Crawford High School.
Following high school, Leo worked various jobs before entering the Army in 1951. He completed his basic training at Ft. Riley, KS. While on leave, he married Iris June Miller on July 8, 1951. He returned to Ft. Riley and was then deployed to Korea as an MP. He was discharged in 1952 and returned to Crawford. To this union, Leo and Iris had two children, Susan Kay born in August, 1959 and Barbara Gail in July, 1962.
Leo and Iris moved to Chadron where Leo attended Chadron State College and earned his Bachelor Degree in Education in May, 1958. After graduating, they moved to Valentine where Leo began his 30-year teaching career with Valentine Public Schools. He taught many Valentine area students American History and coached football, basketball and track. He was principal of Valentine Middle School for many years as well.
During the early 1980’s he decided to try a new endeavor by opening Chubb’s Thom McCann Shoes on Main Street in Valentine. He and Iris enjoyed helping and visiting with many of their customers. After the shoe store closed he returned to teaching science at Valentine Middle School and retiring for good in 1992.
Leo spent his retirement years spending time with family and attending his grandchildren’s activities. In his later years he enjoyed many airplane rides with his former student and friend, Bobby Carr. Leo especially enjoyed seeing the Sandhills countryside and numerous sunsets.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, wife Iris, brothers, Cecil and Lyle Chubb, sister, Wanda Pelren and son-in-law Mark Custer.
He is survived by his sister, Ruby Newell of Indiana and daughters; Susan Custer of Alliance, Barbara (Jim) Harms of Valentine; grandchildren Travis (Shantel) Lurz of Hyannis, Brittany (Garrett) Schroeder of Grand Island, John (Alicia) Harms of Valentine, Heather (Kody) Mizner of Valentine, Matthew (Katie) Custer of Wichita, KS and Mitchell Custer of Manhattan, KS; great grandchildren, Wade Lurz, William and Bennett Schroeder, Hunter, Kayleigh and Sophia Harms and Waylon Mizner.
Funeral service for Leo Chubb was held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Valentine Methodist Church. Burial followed at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Lunch followed the ceremony. Memorials may be given to the Valentine Methodist Church. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.
