Leroy “Roy” Howard Leise, age 89, of Portersville, peacefully passed away at Paramount Senior Living in Cranberry Twp., on Wednesday morning, September 30, 2020.
Born February 3, 1931 on his family farm in Muddy Creek Township; he was the son of the late Howard “Pete” Gilmer and Mary “Tillie” Matilda Barkley Leise.
He was a proud US Army Veteran who honorably served during the Korean War, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant.
From a young age he was a hard worker and helped provide for his family as he worked on his family farm. In his teens he helped operate a sawmill. In the late 1940’s he attended Portersville High School, and then left for the military where he was trained as a mechanic in the Army. He returned home and served as a Muddy Creek Township Supervisor and performed road maintenance. While employed by Mathews Conveyor in Ellwood City, he married and started having a family of his own. His wife and six children were displaced by the formation of Lake Arthur. In 1964 he moved his family to their lifelong home on route 488 between Prospect and Portersville, where his family continued to grow.
He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic and welder for the Kerry Coal Company. After retirement, he worked for Cable Hardwoods in Portersville and he was a contract worker for PennDOT.
Leroy was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed gardening, hunting and hiking. After retirement, he traveled with his wife and enjoyed Bluegrass Music Festivals.
He is survived by his children Thomas (Lucia) Leise of Connecticut, Susan (James) Kradel of Butler, Patricia (Anthony) Kiefer of Portersville, Timothy (Chrissy)Leise of Prospect, Janet Leise of Prospect, Scott (Jamie) Leise of Slippery Rock, James (Colleen) Leise of Slippery Rock, Teresa (Karl) Portner of North Carolina, Dennis Leise of Indiana, and Daryl Leise of Prospect; his grandchildren Joseph, Emilia, Maria, Charles, Samantha, Anthony III, Michael, Sara, Jessica, Savana, Kevin, and Gregory; his great grandchildren Haden, Heidi, Henry, Margaret, and Dereck; his siblings James (Barbara) Leise of Slippery Rock and Freda Joan Courtney of Prospect, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Margaret “Peg” Leise, who he married September 15, 1956 and who died February 24, 2015; his sisters Blanche Durnell and Violet Cratty; and his brothers Hope Leise and Glenn Leise.
Public visitation will be on Friday, October 2, 2020 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at the Raisley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, pc, 387 Main Street, Prospect, PA.
The family will have a private entombment with military honors on Saturday, at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Butler.
Memorial contributions may be made to Butler County Special Olympics, PO Box 2561, Butler PA 16003; or Alzheimer’s Association, 2835 East Carson St Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
To leave an online tribute, go to www.raisleyfuneralhome.com