John Joseph Leckfor

John J. Leckfor, 96, of Manchester, loving husband for over 53 years of the late Margaret M. (Stamler) Leckfor, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Born in New Castle, PA on December 1, 1921, a son of the late Michael and Stella (Gronki) Leckfor, he had been a resident of Manchester since 1943. John was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Prior to his retirement, he was employed for over 35 years by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford as an experimental assembler. John enjoyed building model airplanes, reading, and was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.

John is survived by a son, John J. Leckfor, Jr. of Ledyard; three daughters, Margaret Mary Schmitzer of Birdsboro, PA, Patricia L. Rossi and her husband, John, of Glastonbury, Joanne M. Gunning and her husband, John, of Warwick, RI; four grandchildren, Lisa Soignoli and her husband, Richard, of Cromwell, Robert Rossi and his wife, Patricia “Trish”, of Glastonbury, Jessica Yu and her husband, Harland, of Springfield, VA, James Gunning and his wife, Elizabeth “Beth”, of Granby; six great-grandchildren, Nicholas Soignoli, Adriano Rossi, Dante Rossi, Henry Yu, Edward “Teddy” Yu, and James Gunning, Jr. He also leaves a brother, Edward Leckfor and his wife, Virginia, of Tolland; two sisters, Gertrude Miller of Port Orange, FL, Eleanor Siglow of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister-in-law, Ann Barber of Groton; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. In addition to his beloved wife and parents, John was predeceased by a son-in-law, Paul H. Schmitzer of Birdsboro, PA; and five siblings, Mary Blashak and Walter Leckfor both of New Castle, PA, Bernard Leckfor, Bernice Gallagher, and Ronald Leckfor all of Ohio.

Funeral service celebrating John’s life will be Saturday (July 7th) at 10:30 am at the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow at St. James Cemetery, (Section H), Broad Street, Manchester. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Saturday morning (July 7th) from 9:00 – 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 260 Cochituate Road, Suite 200, Framingham, MA 01701. John’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to his special care givers, Cobla and Eric from “Stay at Home Care” for their professionalism, compassionate care, and love given to John and his entire family the past 18 months. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.