John Russel Leene

John R. Leene

Newark—John R. Leene, 64, died on Tuesday (February 13, 2018) at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. on Monday (February 19^th) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark. Funeral services will be at 11 AM on Tuesday (February 20, 2018) at the Calvary Church, 835 Peirson Avenue, Newark. Burial will be in St. Charles Cemetery in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

Memorials, in his name, may be made to Wilmont Cancer Center at U of R. Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642 or to Calvary Church, 835 Peirson Avenue, Newark, New York 14513.

John was born on March 30, 1953 in Rochester, the son of the Robert and Mary Louise Nortz Leene. He was a 1971 graduate of Newark High School and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Heidelberg College in Ohio. John lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for many years where he painted and made  rare Indian trading bead jewelry. He moved back to the area, first living in Geneva, then moving back to Newark. He was a graphic artist for Wegman's. John was an active member of the Calvary Church. John enjoyed the outdoors and nature; he loved music, playing his guitar and singing. Recently, he had started collecting old coins.

John is survived by his mother,  Mary Lou Leene of Exeter, NH; his siblings Anne (David) O'Brien of Alexandria, VA, Sara (Anthony) Carcieri of Rumford, RI, Meg (Michael Tiffany, Fiance) Gronvall of Leesburg, VA, Eilish (Stewart) Neff of Wenham, MA and Peter (Mary Catherine West, Partner) Leene of Wayland, MA. He was predeceased by his father Robert H. Leene.

www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com