Max Daniel Leavy Obituary (1923

Max Daniel Leavy, age 97, passed away January 17, 2021 in Provo, Utah, from natural causes. He was born November 7, 1923 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to Budd Joseph and Veda Mae Bosch Leavy. He grew up near the banks of the Susquehanna River and enjoyed the company of close friends and relatives. One of these close friends was Terese Kuehl. They enjoyed dancing together and skipping across the train trestle that spanned the river. Max and Terese were married on September 26, 1941, in Kentucky. Terese passed away one week shy of their 69th wedding anniversary. Shortly after the birth of their first child, Patricia, Max was called up to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. His savvy with machinery and mathematical calculations as a B-29 flight engineer helped keep his flight crews safe during their extensive wartime missions. His drive to keep others safe and secure continued throughout the rest of his life. He and Terese were the parents of three lovely children. Max worked tirelessly and efficiently to support the needs of his family. He was proud of his more than 30-year career with Hammermill Paper Manufacturing in the Erie, Pennsylvania division, first as an electrician, then as the director of maintenance, and finally as a senior executive engineer. Max oversaw the construction of paper mills. His efficient management and consultation resulted in his projects being completed under schedule and under budget with record breaking production outputs. At the time of his retirement, his worldwide peers regarded Max as one of the foremost experts in fine paper manufacturing. Max’s attention to detail was evident in his interests outside of work, most notably with his family. He enjoyed camping with his children when they were young. He took the time to introduce them to hobbies such as swimming, sailing, coin collecting, and model train building. This personal interest and interaction was extended to his grandchildren as well. With his passing, a seemingly endless amount of fond memories have been shared. His fine legacy will be remembered and passed down through generations. His legacy of faith will also be passed down. Max and Terese made a profound life change when they were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in December 1976. Max brought his thoughtfulness and leadership skills to members of his Erie congregation for more than ten years. Without hesitation he travelled many miles to reach members that needed support. He and Terese were greatly missed when they relocated to Provo, Utah after his retirement. During his later years he loved serving in the Provo Temple and as the clerk for the Provo Oak Hills Stake. Consistent with his previous life pattern he reached out to others and developed new and lasting friendships. As much as Max enjoyed interacting with friends and colleagues in his later life his greatest enjoyment was interacting with his children and grandchildren. Until his passing, he was available for a phone call or to assist with buying a meal for those he loved, often asking, “Is everybody happy?” Max is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Hannes Curtze), Erie, PA; son, Robert (Heather Harris), Park City, UT; 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Terese; son, Jeffrey (Deon Gassman, Provo, UT); granddaughter, Gwen Hiles, and great-grandson, Mikael Hiles. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 30, 2021 at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, Utah. There will be no visitation prior to the graveside service. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.