Leise

Hope W. Leise, 88, of 654 Lake Road, Hadley, Sandy Creek Township, died at 3:10 a.m. Saturday at the Meadville Medical Center following a period of failing health.

Born May 12, 1921, in Portersville, he was a son of the late Howard and Mary (Barkley) Leise.

He married the former Martha P. Bish on July 29, 1959, and she survives.

Before having served with the Army during World War II, Mr. Leise was a grinder and operator at a mill in Ellwood City. After service in the Army, he returned to Butler County to assume the operation of the family farm until 1959, when he was displaced with the purchase of his property to create Moraine State Park. He moved to Mercer County and started a dairy farm in Sandy Creek Township.

He was a member of the Meadville Farm Credit Association, where he had served as an officer and a director for many years. He enjoyed buck hunting, playing his guitar and learning later to play the fiddle and piano.

He especially enjoyed his pipe and tobacco.

He was a Protestant.

In addition to his wife of 50 years, he is survived by two sons, Peter W. Leise and his wife, Elaine, of Fredonia and Phillip D. Leise and his wife, Kathy, of Hadley; a stepson, David Barnhart of Greenville; a stepdaughter, Kim Barnhart-Reynolds and her husband, Steve Reynolds, of Pittsburgh; two sisters, Violet Cratty of Butler and Joanie Courtney and her husband, Jack, of Prospect; three brothers, Glenn Leise of Volant, Jim Leise and his wife, Barbara, of Slippery Rock and Roy Leise and his wife, Margaret, of Portersville; and nine grandchildren, Stephanie, Haley and Amanda Barnhart, Matthew, Joel and Rebekah Leise, Nicholas and Gregory Leise and Sarah Joy Stallsmith.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Blanche Darnell.

<B>LEISE</B> — A memorial service for Hope W. Leise, who died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the North Salem United Methodist Church, 352 Quinter Road, Hadley, with the Rev. Steven Lamb, pastor of the church officiating.The family has suggested that memorial tributes may be made to either the North Salem United Methodist Church, 352 Quinter Road, Hadley, PA 16130 or to the American Cancer Society, 3208 B. Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA 16105.Arrangements are by the <B>Robert L. Snyder Funeral Home</B>, 3223 Perry Highway, Sheakleyville.The online guest register may be signed at www.rlsfh.com.