Christopher Leipler

May 13, 1986-Dec. 10, 2021

Christopher Lewis Leipler died on Friday, Dec. 10, in Palm Bay, Florida, while pursuing one of his many passions, paramotoring. He was 35.

Chris Leipler, of West Falls, N.Y. was born in Buffalo and lived most of his life in and around East Aurora. Chris worked as a surveyor and heavy equipment operator as well as a farmer.

Chris, with his wife Beth, owned Tioga Valley Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Colden, N.Y. The Leiplers also owned a five-acre “food forest” in Jamaica. When reflecting on a trip there this November, Chris shared, “Our home away from home, Port Antonio, Jamaica. We started our adventure 6 years ago … every trip there we work to make it into our dream of a food forest…This trip was a special one. We were able to harvest cacao, banana, June plum and coconut from plants that we planted. It was a great feeling.”

Chris was an adventurer at heart, who lived life to the fullest. The Leiplers loved traveling as a family and Chris included paramotoring wherever they went in the U.S. and abroad in locations like Egypt where he flew over the Pyramids. He loved the outdoors and spending time with his wife and son, Dominic. He was a mushroom forager, a talented fix-it guy, a jack-of-all-trades, a dedicated farmer, a loyal friend, a culinary artist and excellent chef.

Chris is survived by his wife and son; his father Lewis Leipler; mother Laurie McGirr and husband Mike; sister Janelle (Michael) Paradise; nephew Mikey and nieces Emma and Ayana; dogs Loki and Dewey.

The family will welcome friends on Sunday, December 19th from 10-2 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, with a service to follow at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Portland Rehabilitation Management (http://prmhomeless.org), a homeless shelter in Jamaica where Chris often volunteered.