Howard Edward Leitner

TURIN-Howard Edward Leitner, 88, of Whiskey Lane, passed away on Wednesday July 2, 2025 at Lewis County General Hospital. 

The funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday July 10, 2025 at Iseneker Funeral Home Inc. with Holley De Lapo, Certified Lay Servant, officiating.  Burial with Military Honors will be in Turin Cemetery.  Calling hours will be from 1:00 pm. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday July 9, 2025 at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Howard’s name may be made to the Turin United Methodist Church P.O. Box 9
Turin, NY 13473 or to the Turin Fire Department P.O. Box 35, Turin, NY 13473. 

Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Jean; two children, Darren Edward (Marla) Leitner of Pennellville, NY, and Suzanne Marie Leitner of Turin; one grandchild, Nicholas E. (Natalie) Leitner of Baldwinsville; and two sisters, Barbara Lou Leitner Harshberger of Cicero and Carol Joan Leitner Marshall of Rutherford, NJ.  He was predeceased by two brothers-in-law, Gerald Harshberger and Charles Marshall.

He was born on November 8, 1936 in Geneva, New York, the son of the late Harold Grey and Margaret Lavina Withers Leitner.  Proudly named after both of his grandfathers, Howard Elijah Leitner and Edward James Withers, he attended Brick School on the Johnson Road in Geneva for grades 1 through 6 before Geneva Junior School for grades 7 and 8. Lastly, he attended Geneva High School where he graduated with the class of 1954.  During and after his school years, he worked on many local area Geneva farms.  Howard joined the United States Navy on March 23, 1955.  He traveled around the country and world to many locations, including Maryland, Puerto Rico, Turkey, Guantanamo Bay, Gitmo Bay, Greece, and Syria.  Howard served until his honorable discharge as a QM2 on March 12, 1959.  On May 23, 1959, he married Jean Irene Depew at the Penn Yan Baptist Church with Reverand Charles Munger officiating.  Howard then enrolled at State University of New York at Oswego, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts, later obtaining a master’s degree in 1970.  He taught Industrial Arts and Technology and coached the rifle team at South Lewis Central School.  After 29 years in the classroom, he retired on June 28, 1992.  Howard also sold perennial flower plants and maple syrup throughout his career and retirement.

Howard was a member and lay leader at the Turin United Methodist Church.  While at SUNY Oswego, he was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau EPT, Kappa Delta Pi KDP, and the sons of the Wilted Wallet-SWW.  Howard was a member of the Lewis County Maple Producers Association, New York State Retired Teachers Association, National Rifle Association, Gomer Hill Hunting Club, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, and the Adirondack Retired Teachers Association.  While Howard was working, he was a member of the South Lewis Teacher’s Association.  Howard was on several boards and councils in the local area, including the Turin Planning Board, Cooperative Tug Hill Council, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, and Turin Cemetery.  He served a variety of positions throughout the years.

Howard greatly enjoyed hunting deer, elk (in Colorado), caribou (in Labrador), fishing, boating, flowers, forestry, maple syrup, computers, and traveling.  He travelled to 48 of the 50 states in America (missing Rhode Island and Hawaii), most provinces in Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, and Gibraltar.

Condolences may be made to Howards family online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.

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