Obituary of Leonard Joseph Halecki

Leonard J. Halecki, 93, of Plains Twp. died Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5 , 2015 in West Chester, PA surrounded by his loving family. Born October 8, 1922 , the son of the late Paul and Nora Wasmanski Halecki, he was a lifelong resident of Plains Twp. He attended SS. Peter and Paul School in Plains and remained a lifetime member of the parish. He graduated from Plains Memorial High School, Class of 1940. During World War II , he proudly served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Asian Theater stationed in China, Burma, and India. Following military service, Leonard married Plains native Sophie Kaskiel who passed away in June 2007 after 59 years of marriage. Early in his career he worked briefly for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He retired in 1987 from Chamberlain Corp. in Scranton after 25 years as a Quality Control Tool and Die Inspector. Leonard was a longtime member of the Plains American Legion Joseph E. Conlon Post 558 and a founding member and former commander of the Plains Polish American Veterans. He was an avid gardener supplying family and friends with an abundance of vegetables and fruits throughout many summers. He was also an enthusiastic baseball fan rooting for both the Baltimore Orioles and his grandchildren's favorite team, the Philadelphia Phillies. In addition to his parents and wife, Leonard was preceded in death by his sister, Florence Semko in January of this year. Surviving are his daughters Patricia Dougherty ( Charles ) , West Chester, PA, Debra Binker ( Richard ), Plains Twp. and Karen Dula ( Edward ), East Fallowfield, PA. ; grandchildren Erin, Brian and Kelly Dougherty; Dale and Jamie Binker; and Lee, Lauren and Samantha Dula ; six great-grandchildren ; sister, Helen Lee, Wilkes-Barre ; brother, Frank, Baltimore, MD and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Dec.11 at 10:30 AM at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Plains. Visitation for family and friends will be held at the Church prior to Mass beginning at 9:00 AM. Interment with military honors will follow at SS Peter and Paul Cemetery, Plains. Arrangement in the care of the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc. Plains. For condolences and directions to services, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.