Rev. Willard Leisy
Rev. Willard Leisy
On August 13, 2013, our Lord called home one of His dear
servants – Reverend Willard R. Leisy. He
died in his sleep quietly and peacefully with his wife, Marian Leisy by his
side at Willow Park.
Willard
was born October 22, 1913, in American Falls, Idaho to Albert Herman and
Henrietta Tiahrt Leisy. Willard was the
oldest of four sons, Arthur, Richard and Leonard who preceded him in death. He attended schools in Aberdeen, Idaho and
graduated from Glad Tidings Bible School in 1934. Upon graduation from Bible School, he moved
back to Idaho to begin ministry with his brother in St. Anthony. In the fall of 1934, he was called to start a
new church in Pocatello, Idaho. A year
later the Southern Idaho District Council asked Reverend Leisy to move to
Mackay, Idaho and start a new church.
During his transition, the local Methodist church in Mackay asked him to
help with their church. Rev. Leisy ministered
from 1935 – 1938. In 1935, Reverend
Leisy received his license to minister from the Assemblies of God fellowship.
In
1936, Reverend Leisy met his beloved wife, Marian Louise Bartlett. It was love at first sight. Knowing she would be his bride someday, he
went to work in a grocery store in financial preparation for marriage to his
new-found love. After a transfer to
Arco, Reverend Leisy married Marian on June 5, 1938 where he continued to work
in the grocery business until 1943. On
July 1941 their first child was born, Sharon Evonne MacGregor. During their years in Arco, Reverend Leisy
was elected to the Idaho State Senate from Butte County from 1942 – 1943. Upon completion of his service in the Idaho
Senate, Willard and Marian returned to Aberdeen, Idaho to pursue his childhood
occupation of farming for approximately two years to help support his family.
In 1945
Reverend Leisy received a call to pastor the Firth Tabernacle Assembly of God
church where they served until 1951. It
was in Firth that their son Robert Eugene Leisy was born. Following a successful church ministry in
Firth, Idaho and serving in Idaho District leadership, Reverend Leisy answered
a call to pastor in Hamilton, Montana where he was instrumental in building a
new parsonage and a new sanctuary during their thirteen-year pastorate.
Leaving
behind a well-established church in Hamilton, Montana, Willard and Marian moved
to Havre, Montana where once again, he built another new parsonage and new
sanctuary in five short years. His
personal drive for excellence continued to shine brightly through his many
accomplishments. While in Montana,
Reverend Leisy served as the Southwest Montana Presbyter for six years,
followed by serving another six years as Assistant Superintendent of the
Montana District of the Assemblies of God.
While serving in Havre, Willard and Marian took a much anticipated trip
to Alaska to see Kodiak bears. It was
during this trip they felt a strong nudge to move to Alaska.
In 1969
they received a call to minister in Juneau, Alaska where they served for six
years, pastoring until 1974. While
ministering in Juneau, Reverend Leisy was elected Assistant Superintendent to
the Alaska District of the Assemblies of God in 1970 and then in 1974 Reverend
Leisy accepted the position of Superintendent of the Alaska District of the
Assemblies of God. Upon election, he
proceeded to move the District offices from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Reverend Leisy served as Superintendent until
1980.
Throughout
his passionate years of ministry, Willard continued to carry the call to
minister deep in his heart. Thus in 1980
he wrote a proposal to the State of Alaska, expressing a desire to establish a
Chaplaincy program for the Department of Corrections. The State of Alaska funded the program and
appointed Reverend Leisy to the position of Chaplain, a position he held until
he retired and moved back to Boise, Idaho in 1993. Moving and retirement did not stop him from
continuing to minister –preach, teach, and serve the local churches in various
ways. After returning to Boise, Willard
flew to Florida for training to serve as a stewardship counselor with the
Assemblies of God Financial Wills and Estate Planning. This opened many doors of opportunity to help
and assist Christians to prepare for retirement and establish planned
giving. Reverend Leisy was a blessing to
many and will be missed tremendously by his family and friends near and far.
Willard
served on the Northwest University Board until 1998; was General Presbyter with
the Assemblies of God; member of the Lions Club, serving as president
in Idaho; member of the Community Club in Mackay, Idaho; served in the
Volunteer Reserve during WW II; member of the Kiwanis Club in Juneau, AK;
served on the Bartlett Memorial Hospital Board in Juneau, AK; taught in Muldoon
Bible Institute; and spoke at Family Camps in the Marshall Islands, the Navajo
Reservation in Arizona, and Eskimo Camps in Nome, Barrow, and Shaktoolik
Alaska.
Willard
is survived by his wife, Marian Louise, who celebrated their 75
th
wedding anniversary in June 2013; daughter, Sharon and son-in-law Tom
MacGregor, Boise, Idaho; son, Robert Eugene and daughter- in-law Michelle
Young- Leisy, Florence, Arizona; brother-in-law and wife, General George and
Donna Bartlett, Potomac, Maryland; sister-in-law, Peggy Leisy, American Falls,
Idaho; and many other loving nieces and nephews and relatives.
A
special thank you to all of Willard’s Willow Park Memory Care staff and
caregivers and the Hearts for Hospice caregivers for their tremendous love and care
they provided to Willard during the last year.
His life was touched by their tender thoughtfulness and made him truly
feel at home.
A celebration of Willard’s life and
Christian faith will be held Tuesday, August 27, 2013, 1:00 p.m. at the River
City Church.
Rev. Doyle Fulkes,
Superintendent of Southern Idaho District of the Assemblies of God Church will
officiate the service.
A Graveside
Service will follow in Dry Creek Cemetery.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. Willard Leisy, please visit our flower store.
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