Oneonta – James Robert Leveille, 91, passed away on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Oneonta.

Jim was born in Newark, NY on Dec. 25, 1922, the second son of Joseph J. and May (Haslam) Leveille. When he was six years old, the family moved to Oneonta where he grew up and attended schools.

On Nov. 1, 1941, Jim married Eleanor (Iny) Matthews at the River St. Baptist Church parsonage in Oneonta. They resided at Goodyear Lake for 60 years. Iny died on Oct. 15, 2012, just two weeks before their 71st wedding anniversary.

He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific aboard the USS Crafton (APA-109) as a Gunner's Mate Third Class. He earned the Asiatic-Pacific Victory Medal and participated in the Philippine Liberation.

At the age of 18, he started work at the D&H Railroad until 1952 when the railroad switched from steam to diesel engines. He then became employed by NYS Electric & Gas and retired from there as a heavy equipment operator in 1984 after 31 ½ years of service.
From the time Jim was a youth, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and became a great sportsman. He not only hunted locally in New York, but also took several hunting trips to Canada and to the Rocky Mountains. Many mounted heads and antlers were displayed in their home.

Jim and Iny enjoyed their retirement years greatly. On their Honda motorcycle, they traveled throughout the United States to all the lower 48 states and Alaska, all the provinces of Canada and into Mexico. They were founding members of the local chapter of the Retreads Motorcycle Club. They continued riding the motorcycle into their late eighties.

Jim was a member of the Hudson Highlands Retreads Motorcycle Club, the Antique Snowmobile Club of America, the American Legion Post 259, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Jim Pearce of Goodyear Lake; his grandson, Eric Pearce of Chicago; a sister-in-law, Viola Matthews of Syracuse; and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Iny; his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph E. and Marian LeVeille; and his nephew, Joseph H. LeVeille.

Calling hours will be 10 am to Noon on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 with the Memorial Service at Noon, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta. The Rev. Judith Thistle is officiating.

Burial with Military honors will follow at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Milford Fire Dept./ Emergency Squad, PO Box 359, Milford, NY 13807.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com