Robert Roy Leisy

Lt Col. Robert “Bob” Leisy, ret USMC passed away March 28, 2014 at the age of 82. His journey began in the small town of Peter Miguel in the Panama Canal Zone, where he grew up with his two brothers Henry Joe “Hank” and Ralph Leisy. He was the son of Henry Theodore Leisy from Wisner, Nebraska and Etta Viola Long from Jicarilla, New Mexico. The Panama Canal Zone always had a special place in his heart, as he fondly remembered the mischief his brothers and he managed to create in the jungle. He graduated from Balboa High School in 1949, and always enjoyed attending their reunions. In an unfortunate coincidence, he lost his brother Hank suddenly on February 20th of this year.   In 1949, he attended the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM and graduated in 1953, receiving a commission in the Marine Corps as a Second Lt. Bob was to serve his country as a Marine for 26 years, including 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Air Medal with Gold Star, Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, The Presidential Unit Citation with three stars, and flew over 640 Combat Air Missions. His other active duty included membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff panel on Navigation and as chairman played a key role in the early implementation of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as well as 5 years as executive officer at the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) at Cherry Point, NC. In 1979 he retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Lt. Col. His flying skills once qualified him for an invitation to fly with the Blue Angels, but he declined the honor because he felt the travel would take him away from his family too often.   With his first wife Ellen Telfer, Bob had two sons Colin and Roy, who live in North Carolina, and a daughter Zoetta from California. In 1973 he married Delores Vernelson and they would have celebrated their 41th anniversary this year. After living in New Bern North Carolina and Virginia, he moved to Key West, FL in 1986 with his wife Delores, and lived there for 19 years. He was involved in boating with the Key West Power Squadron, and remained active in veteran organizations, including acting as former Beam Man of the Key West Hangar of Quiet Birdmen, Past Commander of the Retired Officers Association of Key West, and Marshall of the Key West Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. He had a lifelong passion for fishing, sports and boating, loved telling stories and naughty jokes, and enjoyed his retirement years travelling the world with his wife Delores.   He is survived by Delores; brother Ralph (Rita) Leisy; his children Colin (Susan) Leisy, Roy Leisy and Zoe (Alex) Romanoff; grandchildren Amanda (Ashley) Porter, Elaine and Brittany Leisy; and great granddaughter Julie.   We will all miss him greatly, and would like you to join us to celebrate his life this Friday April 4, 2014 at 4 p.m. in the Broadus-Raines Funeral Home Chapel, 501 Spring St, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.broadusraines.com.