Paul G. Leigh

Paul Gordon Leigh

October 29, 1925 – January 25, 2022

Paul Gordon Leigh of River Ranch, Florida passed away this week at the age of 96.

Born on a farm in Spring Lake, Wisconsin to the late Paul Leigh and Edith Coville, Paul was ambitious and graduated from high school at the age of 16. He traveled to New York to join the Merchant Marines at 17 where he spent 1944 delivering and laying down portable runways in Normandy.  After completing his service with the Merchant Marines he purchased a motorcycle and worked his way across the United States to San Francisco where he joined the U.S. Marine Corp.   While stationed in Oahu, he met the love of his life Agnes (Anne) Potocny on a blind date at Waikiki beach in Honolulu.  He sold his bike to buy an engagement ring and proposed six weeks later.  They spent the next 74 years building a beautiful life together.

Paul attended Marquette University on the GI bill graduating with honors and a degree in Electrical Engineering.  He spent his career in the paper industry with Procter & Gamble in Green Bay Wisconsin and Tunkhannock, Pa., Simplicity Patterns in Massena, New York and retiring as Mill Manager at the Kaukauna, WI International Paper facility.

Paul had a passion for hunting, fishing and the outdoors.  He enjoyed flying; obtaining his pilot’s license at age 50.  He loved old-time Westerns, the Green Bay Packers (both in winning and losing seasons), and most especially, all things dessert.  At age 91 he completed his bucket list by skydiving against doctor’s orders.

Paul is predeceased by his parents, Sister Kay, and Brothers Raymond, Eugene, and Dennis.  He is survived by his beloved wife Anne, Sister Bernadine and his six children (Annemarie Leigh Austin, Kathleen Leigh Johnson, Michael Leigh, Kevin Leigh, Janet Leigh Cauldren & Terry Leigh Stratton) and their spouses.  He was blessed with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of who will carry a part of him and his legacy in their hearts for generations.

The family will celebrate Paul’s life with a small private gathering soon when all family members can be together.  If you wish to celebrate his life, we ask that you bear hug a loved one, watch an old Western, and enjoy a piece of pie.