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Walter L. "Junie" Leutsch Veteran
March 01, 2021

Obituary

CHICOPEE – Walter L. “Junie” Leutsch, 88, of the Ridgewood Village in Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, March 1, 2021. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on February 11, 1933, a beloved son of the late Walter E. and Ethelyn (Record) Leutsch. He was raised in the Fairview section of Chicopee, graduated from Chicopee Vocational High School and had lived in Fairview his entire life. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War and attained the rank of Aviation Machinist’s Mate Petty Officer Second Class. He received the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with Two Stars, the China Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was proud to have received the Ambassador For Peace Medal from the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea on November 1, 2017 for his service during the Korean War. Following his marriage to his beloved wife, Dolores, he furthered his education and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from Western New England College in Springfield. He was employed for 21 years at The Acme Chain Company in Holyoke and retired as a Research and Development Engineer. He was a member of Methodist Church, which later became Faith United Methodist Church and was a member of the Fairview American Legion Post 438, both in Chicopee. During his leisure time, he enjoyed bowling and golfing and completing jigsaw puzzles. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Dolores M. (Tracy) Leutsch. They were married on April 7, 1956 at Faith Methodist Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 64 years of happiness together. He also leaves his four loving children, Kathryn M. “Kate” Fernandes and her husband, Robert, of Granby, Raymond W. Leutsch and his wife, Terri, of Chicopee, Tracy L. O’Connor and her husband, Patrick, of Granby and Donna G. Chauvette and her husband, Rene, of Summertown, TN; her eight cherished grandchildren, Jason Fernandes and his wife, Andrea, Lara Fidalgo, Melissa and Raymond Leutsch, Jake O’Connor and his partner, Lauren Magri, Hannah Bratz and her husband, Jarad, Adam Chauvette and his wife, Chandal, and Eric Chauvette and his wife, Mariah; his 23 cherished great-grandchildren; his dear brother-in-law, Wayne Tracy and his wife, Carole, of Westfield; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. In addition to his beloved parents, he was predeceased by his two dear brothers, Edwin “Eddie” Leutsch and his wife, Lenore and Alfred “Bud” Leutsch and his wife, Ann; and his dear sister, Grace Leutsch. His Funeral Services will be private and his Committal Service with United States Navy Military Honors will be private at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. There are no visiting hours. His funeral arrangements are entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, (Please specify Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com

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St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels
506 Britton Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
413-533-3307