Obituary for Domenic Leitza
Domenic Leitza, 96, of 219 Lake
Drive, Hurley, died Saturday, June 26, 2010, in Hurley. He was born June 20, 1914, in Hurley, son of
the late Peter and Julia (DeFranco) Leitza, and attended Hurley schools.
He worked for area logging contractors and in
the Montreal Mine until it closed, and was employed at White Pine Copper Co.
until retiring in 1972. He was a self-employed logger in his
retirement. Widely known for raising and showing champion
Beagles, Domenic was a member of the Gogebic Range Beagle Club, Borderline
Beagle Club of Iron Belt, and Snow Ridge Beagle Club of South Carey, and was
inducted into the Beagling Hall of Fame. He was also a member of St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Hurley and Knights of Columbus Council 669. He enjoyed
hunting and fishing, and especially enjoyed playing smear at the Alaska House in
Hurley with his sister Mary. On April 27, 1941, he married the former Maria
"Frances" Passanante in Chicago. She preceded him in death after 68
years together on Jan. 29, 2010. Surviving are two sons, Peter (Bonita),
Hatley, and Anthony (Kathy), Wausau; a daughter, Julianne Mieloszyk, Ironwood,
Mich.; nine grandchildren, Scott, Paul (Daria), and Anthony (Sherry) Leitza,
Heidi (Timothy) Lescun, Amanda (Bradley) Brandt, Russell, Nick (Ruth), and
William (Barbara) Mieloszyk, and Terri (Joe) Knaack; 17 great-grandchildren, Victoria, Megan, Lilliana,
Sara, Natalie, Zachary, Kaylee, Derrick, Maria, John, Andrew, Nicholas, Amber,
Ryan, Christina, Domanic and Shannon; three great-great-grandchildren, Joel, Kaleb and
Taylor; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Hildegard Leitza, Hurley, Cecelia Leitza,
Jessup, Penn., Peter (Vita) Passanante, Chicago, Isadoro Passanante and
Katharine Passanante, both of Sicily, and Mary Marretta, Tacoma, Wash.; and
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by four brothers, Joseph, Frank, Tony and Nicholas; and four sisters,
Rose Bosse, LaVerne Tijan, Nellie D'Agostino and Mary Traczyk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, July 3, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the
Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in
St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Luncheon will be served in the parish hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Domenic's grandsons, to
include Paul, Scott and Anthony Leitza, William and Nicholas Mieloszyk, and Joe
Knaack. Domenic's obituary may be viewed online, and
condolences given to his family, at
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.
Drive, Hurley, died Saturday, June 26, 2010, in Hurley. He was born June 20, 1914, in Hurley, son of
the late Peter and Julia (DeFranco) Leitza, and attended Hurley schools.
He worked for area logging contractors and in
the Montreal Mine until it closed, and was employed at White Pine Copper Co.
until retiring in 1972. He was a self-employed logger in his
retirement. Widely known for raising and showing champion
Beagles, Domenic was a member of the Gogebic Range Beagle Club, Borderline
Beagle Club of Iron Belt, and Snow Ridge Beagle Club of South Carey, and was
inducted into the Beagling Hall of Fame. He was also a member of St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Hurley and Knights of Columbus Council 669. He enjoyed
hunting and fishing, and especially enjoyed playing smear at the Alaska House in
Hurley with his sister Mary. On April 27, 1941, he married the former Maria
"Frances" Passanante in Chicago. She preceded him in death after 68
years together on Jan. 29, 2010. Surviving are two sons, Peter (Bonita),
Hatley, and Anthony (Kathy), Wausau; a daughter, Julianne Mieloszyk, Ironwood,
Mich.; nine grandchildren, Scott, Paul (Daria), and Anthony (Sherry) Leitza,
Heidi (Timothy) Lescun, Amanda (Bradley) Brandt, Russell, Nick (Ruth), and
William (Barbara) Mieloszyk, and Terri (Joe) Knaack; 17 great-grandchildren, Victoria, Megan, Lilliana,
Sara, Natalie, Zachary, Kaylee, Derrick, Maria, John, Andrew, Nicholas, Amber,
Ryan, Christina, Domanic and Shannon; three great-great-grandchildren, Joel, Kaleb and
Taylor; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Hildegard Leitza, Hurley, Cecelia Leitza,
Jessup, Penn., Peter (Vita) Passanante, Chicago, Isadoro Passanante and
Katharine Passanante, both of Sicily, and Mary Marretta, Tacoma, Wash.; and
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by four brothers, Joseph, Frank, Tony and Nicholas; and four sisters,
Rose Bosse, LaVerne Tijan, Nellie D'Agostino and Mary Traczyk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, July 3, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the
Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in
St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Luncheon will be served in the parish hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Domenic's grandsons, to
include Paul, Scott and Anthony Leitza, William and Nicholas Mieloszyk, and Joe
Knaack. Domenic's obituary may be viewed online, and
condolences given to his family, at
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.