Leland 'Lee' Clarence Gleasman

WOODRUFF, Wis. - Leland "Lee" Clarence Gleasman, 82, of Mercer, left us to live with his Eternal Father Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at Milestone Senior Living in Woodruff.

He is survived by his former wife, Joleen (Buss) Gleasman; his daughters and their spouses, Kathryn and Michael Pisaro, Cynthia and Brian Sutherland, and Deborah and Salvador Pusateri. He is also survived by his grandchildren and their spouses, Ryan and Cassy Sutherland, Tom Pusateri, Julia (Pusateri) and Hayden Smith, Crystal Sutherland and John Pisaro, as well as his close niece, Dolly (Jim) Przybyla and their daughters, Morgan and Rachel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Thelma Gleasman; his brother, Richard; and his sisters, Joanne, Mary Lou and Linda.

Lee was born in Rockford, Ill., on April 24, 1934, and grew up on the family farm in Rockton, Ill. He attended Carthage College when the college was in Carthage, Ill., and graduated with a degree in mathematics. He taught at various schools until he was hired at West Aurora High School, Aurora, Ill., in 1961, where he taught until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure at West, he coached cross-country and track. His cross-country teams went to the state meet, both as a team and as individual runners.

Many of his runners remember running a specified distance throughout the summer to earn a week's stay at the Gleasman cabin in Mercer, which culminated in running the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Hurley. The Gleasman cabin was a gathering spot throughout the summer for friends and family to enjoy the various activities of waterskiing, sauna bathing, swimming and occasional wiener roasts.

After his retirement, Lee moved to Mercer as a permanent resident. He was a beloved member of the community and was very active in the Mercer Area Sno-Goers, Mercer Senior Center and town board. He was a member of the Mercer United Methodist Church where he thoroughly enjoyed the people, music and coffee hour treats. He helped beautify the church with a stained glass window that honors his three daughters and his grandchildren as stars around his daughters. He helped local business owners and enjoyed socializing with the early morning coffee group. He loved to play euchre, bridge and cribbage with friends and family.

In August 2013, Lee moved to Milestone Senior Living, an assisted living facility, where he especially enjoyed the music concerts and making friends among the residents and staff. He recently enjoyed the New Year's Eve party and fireworks, with noisemakers, hats, cookies, popcorn, punch and camaraderie with the residents, staff and family. He will be missed by many.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 2 p.m., at the Mercer United Methodist Church, corner of County J and Margaret Street, in Mercer, with the Rev. Richard Hartlerode officiating.

A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Those wishing to make a donation in honor of Gleasman can donate by mailing to Mercer Sno-Goers, P.O. Box 484, Mercer, WI 54547, or visit their website, mercersnogoers.com, or by mailing to Mercer Senior Center, P.O. Box 436, Mercer, WI 54547.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood, Mich. Online condolences may be expressed at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.