Businessman Joseph Leyo of Irvona, seen with a buck he harvested, is being remembered as a pillar of the Coalport and Patton communities. Leyo died Saturday at age 91. Courtesy photo

Joseph Patrick Leyo of Irvona is being remembered as a pillar of the community, a role model who often worked behind the scenes to help those in need.

Leyo, who died Saturday at the age of 91, was the operator of Leyo’s Grocery Stores in Coalport and Patton for many years.

Dick Youngkin, owner of Youngkin Construction, said Leyo played a big role in the community.

“He was always doing stuff that people did not know he was doing. For St. Patrick’s Day, he would buy at least a hundred meals from the fire company and deliver them to the elderly in the Coalport area. It was like a double bonus; it helped the fire department and helped the people have a nice St. Patrick’s Day dinner,” Youngkin said.

Rick Kruise, rescue chief of the Glendale Fire Company, who worked at Leyo’s for about 20 years, said Leyo, his first cousin, was good to the community.

“He was a real good businessman, he was still involved with business up until his death. He helped the local fire companies and did a lot for the community; he helped where he could,” Kruise said.

Youngkin said Leyo had a lot of longtime employees at his businesses.

“They enjoyed working for him, he was good to work for,” Youngkin said. “Anyone who worked for him and was in the fire department was able to leave. He understood the importance of things in the community.”

Youngkin said Leyo was personable and a good guy to talk to.

“He didn’t pull any punches, he told you what he thought. I would call him a legend. I really appreciated him. He was a pillar in the community,” Youngkin said. “If you were looking for a role model, Joe was the one to follow.”

Leyo was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed hunting with his family, especially going on trips to Montana.

“When I was 12, we took a trip to Canada to go fishing. I remember we would go turkey hunting together and deer hunting,” Kruise said.

Although much younger than Leyo, Kruise said he spent a lot of time at his cousin’s home when he was young.

“He was like a second father to me,” Kruise said.

Chairman of the Rock Run Recreation Area board and former state Rep. Gary Haluska said Leyo was very community-minded.

“He did a lot for Coalport. He had a grocery store in Coalport and he would allow organizations to set up outside of the store to raise money. He supported the Patton and Coalport fire companies,” Haluska said.

A funeral service for Leyo was celebrated Wednesday at St. Basil the Great Catholic Church, Coalport, with Father Zab Amar, celebrant. Burial was at St. Basil Cemetery, Irvona.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.