
Calling Hours:
Thursday, June 3, 2021, 10:00-11:00am
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Funeral Service:
Thursday, June 3, 2021, 11:00am
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Patrick Willaman, Grandson of the deceased, officiating
Burial will be in Rocky Glen Cemetery, Adamsville, PA
Jacob H. "Jake" Leffler, Jr., age 92, of The Colony at St. Paul's Senior Living Community and formerly of Hadley and Cochranton, passed away Saturday, May 29, 2021 in the ER of UPMC Horizon Greenville.
He was born in Greenville on May 11, 1929 to Jacob H. Leffler, Sr. and Edith M. (Horn) Leffler. Jake was a 1947 graduate of Penn High School. He was employed as a mechanic at Oakes & McClelland in Greenville and then was the owner/operator of his own dairy farm in Cochranton for 30 years. Jake was a past member of Sheakleyville United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Greenville. He enjoyed woodworking and had made many wonderful pieces for family and friends.
On October 23, 1950 he married the former Delores J. Smeltz, she survives at home. Also surviving is a daughter Susan J. Willaman and her husband Terry of Cochranton, a son, Rod Leffler and his wife Julie of Waynesville, NC, a sister Alma Reeves of Greenville, a brother James Leffler of Greenville, five grandchildren, Stephanie Leffler, Jennifer Leffler, Carrie Dunn, Benjamin Willaman and Patrick Willaman and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Laura Mae Fritz and Margaret Fisher and a brother, John Leffler.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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Thinking of my great uncle and his family.
Dear Sue and family: Please know that you are in my thoughts. It is difficult to lose a parent, no matter how old we are at the time.
My heart breaks for all of you, but especially my dear friend, Delores, and for former classmate, Sue. Although we’re exceedingly thankful for years well lived, and for the promise of eternal life with our Saviour, , the sadness of saying “good-bye” on this side of life is nearly overwhelming in the present. Praying for the “ peace that passes all understanding” to encompasses you all when you need it most. Jake was truly a treasure!
My heart is sad for a huge loss of a truly great but humble man. You taught us love, patience, commitment, hard work, pride in craftsmanship, care of animals, persistence, & so much more! Rest in paradise, dear friend for you are missed already.
My heart is sad for a huge loss of a truly great but humble man. You taught us love, patience, commitment, hard work, pride in craftsmanship, care of animals, persistence, & so much more! Rest in paradise, dear friend for you are missed already.
Dear Delores and your extended family:
When one such as Jake dies our hearts are full of gratitude and grief–gratitude to God for the gift of Jake’s long life lived faithfully and fruitfully, and our deep thanksgiving to God for including us in the love and life of this simple man of hard work and deep faith. The grief we feel arises as we realize that he who was so much a part of your lives for so long is now gone from our midst. Because we came to know Jake only in his last years of failing sight and hearing, we have counted on the stories of you and others to “fill in” our knowledge of the fullness of Jake’s life and the loving effect he had on his family and friends.
We offer this prayer: Compassionate God, give courage and faith to all who mourn Jake’s death especially his beloved Delores and her family that they may have strength to meet the days ahead with steadfastness and patience; not as those who are without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life in your presence, with those they love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Aunt Doe and family,
Suzanne and I are so sad to hear of Jakes passing. You two are an amazing love story that will continue to endure. We will cherish the visit we had with you and Jake 2 years ago along with all of my childhood memories at the farm. You two are the strongest people I have ever known and I know your strength will help you in your time of grief. I wish I could be there but know you are surrounded by your loving familiy. We will come see you soon. We Love you.
Thinking of you all and holding you in prayer today as you celebrate the life of Uncle Jake. The photo video was beautiful. I’m sorry we cannot be there in person for his ceremony. His absence will be felt strongly by so many who love and respect him. May the Lord bless your hearts with peace & also gratefulness; may the Lord overwhelm you with His love for you in this moment. With Empathy, Julie Valentine
Dear Delores, Rodney, Susan, Terry, and extended family,
It was probably 16 years ago since my wife and I last visited Jake and Delores at their beautiful place in Greenville. Jake was so nice to show me his wonderful woodworking shop and some things he had done. Following, about 5 years ago, my wife and our oldest daughter Monica visited them on their travels through Pa. Monica remarked that she had never heard Jake talk so freely and that it was so good to experience that visit with Delores and him. When we lived out in front of their Ja-Del Farm for about 11 years after they came to the Cochranton area, it was always good to see the skill of Jake (a gift from God) and the beautiful kept fields in his diligent efforts to succeed in their dairy business. As has been witnessed by several, Jake (and Delores, his very strong support) had a very nice and orderly farm before and after the tornado destruction in May of 1985, due to their hard work and the health only our Creator can give. Though it was a challenge for them, perseverance saw them through coupled with God’s gracious mercy through that challenging time. As some have said, “Hard work never hurts anyone” and “tribulation works patience”. Surely, agriculturists learn patience in temporal and spiritual realms as much or perhaps more than in other fields of service.
Blessings that came our way through the Lefflers while in rural Cochranton were that they graciously allowed me to cut up fallen and dead wood from their orchard and our family to harvest apples for apple cider making since we had more time than money, though that provided us much needed sustenance in place of earning money. Jake also cut hay off our property to assist some provender for a few sheep we raised for meat. So, as our Holy Bible says, “in as much as you did it (loving works of grace) unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me (Jesus)” by assisting in the needs of the afflicted which will not be forgotten by God for any of us. I enjoyed seeing some of the views in the video of the Lefflers and I have an appreciation to see 70 years of their faithfulness to each other in marriage when too many count their marriage covenant as unimportant when hard times come. I also liked the picture of Delores in the nice long white dress and jacket which conveyed, feminines, modesty and decency, which too many have put away.
In closing, Jake lived his life doing what he believed was most rewarding. So are we. Jake left all he accomplished with the health and wealth that God allowed him to attain without taking anything out into eternity with him but his eternal spirit to be judged at the great resurrection day when his body, soul, and spirit are reunited. So will we. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Word will abide forever.” That tells us that nothing is more important to God than that we live according to all the principles of God’s Word that we have had the opportunity to learn about. Everything else will be destroyed by His eternal fire except what God valued for all of us in our living out His Word of truth. To all of us who are living, is this what is most important?—Is the perfect will of God being done in our lives here in this life through the grace of God, faith, and works of God’s righteousness that deliver us completely in this life from a sinful heart and behaviors that displease God? I pray that each of us will be prepared to meet our one and only God without any behaviors that are displeasing to Him that are not repented of and changed by the power of His blood and the Holy Spirit.
May each of us cast our care upon God in this heart-rending time, and may we be renewed in body, soul, and spirit to live a holy life before death or Jesus comes.
Your friend in Christ,
Gordon Allen, Edinburg, Va.
pianos@shentel.net
Mrs. Leffler, Rod and Sue and families.
My deepest sympathy to all of you. The video was wonderful and took me back in time. I am sure he will be missed, but his love and memories will live on. Prayers to all of you,
Becky Fry