Timothy John Leskiw

Timothy John Leskiw was a terrific anecdotist, so it is only fitting that his obituary tells the tale of his life and the sudden end of his delightful stories on June 4, 2024, at the age of 81. He was born on July 15, 1942, in Silver Creek, New York, to John Leskiw and Edna Wagner (both deceased). He was the fifth of their eight children—3 boys and 5 girls. Although he was named Timothy John Leskiw and went by that name his entire life, because he was born in the days of handwritten records, his name was misspelled in the official birth records and the correction was never completely achieved until 2023. That correction was a source of great relief to him in his old age as he declared he would have nothing written of his name if it had to be the other, incorrect spelling.

Timmy—as his older siblings, Arlene Fitzherbert (Donald Fitzherbert Sr.) (both predeceased), Carol Kostowniak (Edward Kostowniak Sr. predeceased), Audrey Gick (William Gick), and Gary Leskiw (Nina) referred to him until the day he died—grew up on a farm and would tell stories of helping to tend the strawberry patches and care for the chickens in his youth. This early training is probably why his home of 50 years in the Town of Cambria, New York, was well known for its car-stopping blooms, delicious vegetables, and beautiful fruit trees.

In 1963, at the age of 20, Tim departed the family home, leaving his mother and younger siblings Lorraine Leskiw, John Leskiw Jr. (predeceased), and Sharon Leskiw, to join the United States Air Force. Once on his way home from being overseas, Tim stopped in Connecticut to visit his eldest sister Arlene, her husband, and his nephews and niece—Phillip Fitzherbert, Donald Fitzherbert Jr., Dewaine Fitzherbert, Aaron Fitzherbert, and Darleen Fitzherbert (predeceased)—wearing his USAF uniform. A ten-year-old Phillip was so impressed with his uncle that it served as his inspiration for later enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.

While in the U.S. Air Force, Tim traveled the world. He was stationed internationally in Japan and Germany, and he took advantage of every leave to travel to nearby cities and towns to visit museums, leading to his love of art and furniture. He would later decorate his home with the items he purchased during his travels. Whenever someone would mention a new museum exhibit in Buffalo, New York, to the surprise of everyone present, Tim would often say that he had already seen it.

After being honorably discharged in 1966, Tim was spotted by a pretty girl he had first met at church, Kathleen Lorna Bernsdorf (predeceased), who thankfully was bold enough to reintroduce herself. In August 1968, they were wed in a church ceremony that was followed by a small family reception held in the kitchen of his wife’s parents, Alvin Bernsdorf and Ethel Schwarzenholzer (both predeceased). In 2018, when his children threw them a 50th wedding anniversary party, they apologized for having the party in their parents’ kitchen. But, recalling their wedding reception, Tim and Kathleen said they would not have wanted the party to be held anywhere else. Throughout his life, Tim had a very close relationship with his sister-in-law, Marleen Esposito, her husband (Michael Esposito Sr.), and their son (Michael Esposito Jr.).

After marrying, Tim started his next two great adventures—fatherhood and university, taking advantage of the GI Bill. He shared six children with Kathleen—John (stillborn), Jeffrey Leskiw (Barbara Panza) of Richardson, Texas, Christopher Leskiw (Jenine) of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Brian Leskiw (Kelly) of Boardman, Ohio, Darren Leskiw (Beth) of Nixa, Missouri, and Meghan McDonough (James) of Lockport, New York. Despite his busy family life, he finished his studies at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, earning a B.A. in Sociology. Tim and his wife strongly valued education, which always came first in the Leskiw household, and they were extremely proud to have two sons who earned Ph.D.s, two sons who are engineers holding graduate degrees, and a daughter who is a nurse practitioner.

With five young children, everything was an adventure. He and his wife would often tell the story of his carefully chilling a mug and placing his cool drink on the picnic table so he could refresh while mowing the lawn. But Tim began to become perplexed when, every time he returned from mowing around the house, his cool drink seemed to evaporate at an unexpected rate. Meanwhile, from her kitchen window, Kathleen saw little heads dash for the picnic table and back each time her husband turned round the corner. Little did Tim know that his three eldest sons, who were also playing in the yard, were taking advantage of his absence to partake of his cool drink in the summer heat.

Tim was fond of his extended family and enjoyed being an uncle. He was the godfather to his brother Gary’s daughter, Lisa Capage, and was supportive of her sister, Dana Schroeder (Thomas). He always enjoyed visits from his sister Carol’s children—Kevin Kostowniak (Kris), Kenneth Kostowniak (Jennifer), Cheryl Aldrich (Dan), and Edward Kostowniak Jr. (Michele). And he was thrilled when his sister Audrey expanded her family to include a nephew and niece—David Gick and Carol Diane Rauber.

Eventually, Tim retired from being an account executive in the railroad transportation industry and started a business, Rae’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts. Tim and his wife designed the custom jewelry and Tim spent many hours at craft shows selling it. His youngest son was especially helpful and impressed people with his knowledge of all the gemstones at his young age. He also served as president of the board for the Clarence Arts and Crafts Society.

Then, Tim began yet another adventure, that of being a grandfather. He was delighted when his family began to enlarge even more. Tim is survived by eight of his nine grandsons of whom he was extremely proud: Henry and identical twins Peter (stillborn) and Thomas Leskiw, Jackson and Miles Leskiw, Evan and Nicholas Leskiw, and Benjamin and Alexander Leskiw. Tim and Kathleen always said girls were a rarity in the Leskiw family. So, when his only daughter was born, despite his leaving the hospital in the very early morning hours, he went straight to his in-laws’ home to share the news that after four boys, he now had a girl! He also felt blessed to have many grandnephews and grandnieces.

At the age of 80, Tim and his wife started another adventure and moved to the Dallas Metroplex in Texas to be closer to his eldest son. He always embraced new ideas and things, and he marveled at the new sights and experiences.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 600 South Jupiter Road, Richardson, Texas 75081. An Air Force Honor Guard will be present. The Rite of Committal will immediately follow at the St. Joseph Columbarium where he will finally rest beside his wife, Kathleen.