Francis J. "Butch" Leister

  Francis J. “Butch” Leister, 83, of Buck Run, passed away late Wednesday evening at his home, surrounded by his loving family..    

      Born in Ashland, he was a son of the late Francis and Edna Mattern Leister.  

      He was a graduate of the former Ashland High school. He was a member of the former St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Minersville and was a member of St. Matthew the Evangelist Church, Minersville. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was retired from Argo Mills where he worked as a knitter mechanic. He was a member of Minersville American Legion Post 544.  

      In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Paul and William Leister and sisters Rose Bardik and Ramona Wisloskie.

     Francis is survived by his wife, the former Dolores Pytko; a son Anthony Leister, Pottsville; 2 daughters,  Dolores “Missy” Stewart and her husband Ronald, Buck Run and Francine “Ciney” Stoka, Florida; 4 grandchildren, Lisa Sebock and her husband Matthew, Candace Smith and her husband Cameron, Valarie and her companion Jesse Celani and Amanda Grant and her husband Noah; 7 great grandchildren, Ronnie, Molly, Hunter, Lucia, Cameron, Cayden and Trey; a sister, Marie Sokoloskie, Lavelle; nieces and nephews especially a nephew Leo Sokoloskie.

      Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Matthew the Evangelist Church, 139 Spruce St., Minersville at 10:30 AM Monday morning. Relatives and friends may call at the Church on Monday morning from 9:30 AM until the time of the Mass Interment will be in St Stanislaus #2 Cemetery, Minersville. Arrangements are by the Donald J. Butler Funeral Home, 328 Sunbury St., Minersville.     

      The family would prefer remembrances of Francis in the form of contributions  to the St. Matthew the Evangelist Church Memorial Fund. Contributions will be accepted during calling hours or at the funeral home.  To offer condolences to the family or to light a candle in Francis’s memory, visit us at www.donaldjbutlerfh.com

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