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Leo Joseph Wachter Jr., of Williamsburg, Va., entered into eternal life Friday at the age of 89. Leo was born in Altoona to Leo Joseph Wachter Sr. and Verneda A. (Sponseller) Wachter.
He graduated from Altoona Catholic High School in 1955 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a proud member of the Army ROTC program. Leo graduated from Notre Dame in 1961 and, later that year, married the love of his life, Barbara Jean Fischer.
Leo's Army service took him first to Indianapolis, Ind., and then to Heidelberg, Germany, where his first daughter, Karen, was born. In 1964, the family returned to Altoona, where Leo joined Penn Alto Bottling Works, an independent Pepsi-Cola bottling company. A savvy businessman and an early adopter of technology, he became president and grew the business and expanded its facilities several times. With a lifelong eye for architecture, Leo designed the company's state-of-the-art bottling plant, which opened in 1979 and was among the first businesses in the Altoona area to implement computer technologies.
Deeply committed to giving back to his community, Leo was a business leader active in many civic organizations. He served as president of the Altoona Kiwanis Club, and through Kiwanis established Circle K at Penn State Altoona campus, represented Altoona Kiwanis in Canada and was named Kiwanis Man of the Year. He was also an active member of the Altoona Jaycees, the Boys & Girls Club, the Sacred Heart Youth Group and Meals on Wheels. In addition, Leo and his siblings founded the Leo J. and Verneda A. Wachter Sr. Foundation, which provided scholarships to high school graduates pursuing further education.
Leo loved to travel and planned many trips with Barbara and their family throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He enjoyed playing the piano and held a deep appreciation for the visual and performing arts.
Leo is survived by Barbara, his loving wife of 64 years; his daughter, Krista Rahm, and her husband, Rob, of Louisa, Va.; his son, Brian Wachter, and his wife, Rani, of Williamsburg, Va.; his sister, Therese Ream, and her husband, David, of Kirksville, Mo.; sister-in-law, Kathy Wachter of Altoona, and her daughter,
Erin, and family; and seven grandchildren: Ryan Hazlett, Laura Hazlett and Caroline Hazlett, all of Richmond, Va.; Dylan Rahm, his wife, Skyler, and their daughter, Meadow, of Louisa, Va.; Shanah Morris and her husband, Adam, of Louisa, Va.; and Daniel Wachter and Julia Wachter of Williamsburg, Va.
Leo was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Hazlett; and his brother, Michael.
Family and friends will be received at a visitation from 10 a.m. until noon on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona. Immediately following the visitation, a Catholic funeral service will be celebrated in Stevens Memorial Chapel. A lunch reception for family and friends will be held after the service to celebrate Leo's life.
Committal will be at St. John's Cemetery, Altoona.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Karen Marie Wachter Hazlett Memorial Endowment of Bishop Guilfoyle Academy. Please make contributions via the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy website at (bishopguilfoyleacademy.org/donate) and put "Karen Marie Wachter Hazlett Memorial Endowment" in the memo field.
Condolences may be made at www.stevensfamilyfuneralhomes.com or Stevens Family Funeral Homes Facebook page.