Leo Robert Willenbacher, 82 of Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at Select Specialty Hospital, Johnstown.

Named after star baseball infielder, Leo Durocher, he was born on June 10, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Jack Willenbacher and Gertrude O'Hagan.

Leo faced many challenges from an early age. His father abandoned him as an infant. His mother had to place him in foster care and a Catholic-run orphanage while she worked as a riveter during WWII. Her second marriage was to a mentally troubled man who resented Leo's very existence and was verbally abusive.

Still he persevered. He was an entrepreneur at a very early age—working an extensive paper route, mowing lawns, caddying at a local golf course. He would keep his accounts in a small notebook and dutifully enter every record. He was driven to work hard and make money, a trademark tendency all his life.

He loved sports and was a star pitcher in the Pony League in Levittown, NY, posing for a front-page feature in Long Island's Newsday. Leo graduated from Island Trees High School in Levittown, NY. His prowess in basketball earned him a full athletic scholarship to Washington College in Maryland. However, his real love was golf and his scores were so good that he once considered going pro.

He was employed at Specialty Tire as a sales manager for over 27 years retiring in 2019. Diagnosed with a chronic and progressive lung condition, he fought courageously against it for years and defeated his doctors' predictions about his long-term chances. Meanwhile, he regaled loved ones with his tales of exploits, his repertoire of jokes and his amazing ability to nail nearly every answer on Jeopardy.

Leo is survived by his children, daughters Donna King of Huntington, NY and Leigh (David) Ha of Southgate, MI; sons Guy Willenbacher of Elgin, IL, Douglas (Alison) Willenbacher of East Elmhurst, NY and Christopher Willenbacher of Indiana, PA; grandchildren Christen, Trevor, Jeremy, Christian, Grayson, Justin, Rowan, Sidney, Kaileigh; sister Barbara (Brent) Bowers, of Cape Cod, MA; brother Kurt (Monica) Hantusch, Long Island, NY; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death his wife Mary (McBrady) Willenbacher and by his daughter Anne.

The family will receive friends on Monday January 9, 2023 at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, Indiana, from 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Tuesday January 10, 2023 at St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana. Interment will follow in St. Bernard Cemetery.

To send an online condolence to the family please visit www.bowserminich.com.