Joseph Leffel

JOE LEFFEL IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Joseph Kimmel “Joe” Leffel, 58, of Idaho Falls, died June 18, 2008, in a rafting accident in Yukon, Canada. He was born June 22, 1949, in Wabash, Indiana, to Herman Joseph Leffel and Mary Weeks Leffel. He grew up and attended schools in the area. He continued his education by attending Indiana University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree. He then attended the University of Wyoming where he received his Master’s Degree in Counseling. On June 27, 2007, he married Emily McCoy on the Salmon River in Idaho. He worked as an electrician for Bethlehem Steel and as a recreation technician for the Bureau of Land Management at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. He was a union member with the United Steel Workers and a member of the American Counseling Association. He enjoyed camping and white water rafting. Joe had made over 300 rafting trips and had friends all over the world. Survivors are: Wife: Emily McCoy-Leffel, Idaho Falls, ID Son: Joseph Leffel II, Bloomington, IN Daughter Jennifer (Stephen) Murphy, Douglasville, GA Brother: Bruce Leffel, TX 3 Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Jeremiah Leffel. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, in Idaho Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to McPaws Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1375, McCall, ID 83638. --------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Robert Jensen cacheguy57@msn.com I'm sorry for your loss of Joe. I worked with him most everyday and thought of him as a wonderful person to work with. I will miss him a lot. My prayers are with his family and I know he's fishing and rafting in God's country. Nancy Jones coyotejones@yahoo.com Emily: I just heard about the tragedy. I am so sorry. I can only imagine what you must be going through. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. Loving regards, Nancy Jones Adrienne Seamans I am so sorry for your loss. Joe was a great guy who was always happy and always willing to help out whenever he could. He was willing to help others and helped everyone to feel they mattered. Nina Rossi nina_rossi2001@yahoo.com Emily, I am so very sorry for all you have been through. You and your family are in our prayers. It is such a great loss. May God give you comfort in your deep sorrow. Nina Liz Handlan Handlaew@gmail.com Dear Suzanne, Emily and Family, I am so very sorry to hear about your painful loss of Joe.....I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers as you move through this difficult time of grief. May the peace and joy of your loving memories of Joe surround and comfort you at this time. Fondly, Liz Handlan Sharon Balduf I am a friend of Joe's Mother-In-Law, Suzanne McCoy. I wanted to send my most sincere thoughts and prayers for the family. I will keep Joe and his son in my prayers each day. Sincerely, Sharon Balduf Dr. Tanice Foltz tfoltz@iun.edu This is such a shock to me and you must all be stunned. Joe was in my Women and spirituality class at IUN and he was the only male. He made a tremendous contribution with his wisdom and offerings of snacks during the breaks. By the end of the session, all the women loved him. In fact, we had all bonded so much that the class included him as an honorary "sister" of the soul at our celebration. He was a giant-hearted person for whom I had great respect and he will be sorely missed. The earth has regained his spirit for awhile and I know that his memory will be with you all forever. Blessings and healing to you. Tanice Foltz Michael Wolfe r4ton66@msn.com I would like very much for you to know how sorry I am to hear of the tragic passing of JK, as I knew him in school, in N. Manchester. I was in his graduating H.S. class of '67. You have my deepest sympathy and are in my prayers that God may give you comfort in this terrible time. May peace fill your heart and know that JK will be missed by many,a whole lot of us you may never meet. Even though we haden't seen each other for many years the impact of his life is far reaching, and JK was a good classmate and friend to have had. Most sincerely, Michael Wolfe, Mesa, AZ Lisa Wheeler dognurse64@comcast.net Dear Emily, I am so deeply saddened to hear the loss of Joe. My heart and prayers goes out to you. Sincerely, Lisa Wheeler Heidi Crouch Emily, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you deal Joe's passing and the passing of his son. Please know that you can call me anytime if you need anything, a talk, a walk, a drink. Please take care of yourself, knowing that you have a very large suport group that surrounds you during this time in your life. Heidi David McCoy I am so sorry to hear about the accident. donna noe-murdock donna94931@yahoo.com I am shocked and saddened by his tragic passing and that of his son. I too was from North Manchester. I can't say I knew he well but I knew his younger brother, Bruce. Peace be with you all on your loss. Godspeed, Donna Noe-Murdock Rohnert Park, Ca Jane Zentz [janezentz@hotmail.com] To the Family of Joseph K. Leffel: My heart-felt sympathies go to the family of Joe. I was so saddened to hear of your loss. Joe was in my class in school at Manchester Schools, N. Manchester, Indiana. He was a super guy, friendly and a free spirit for sure. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you; I know he will be missed, but his spirit lives in our hearts. He died doing what he loved . . . . . . . . . Sincerely, Jane (Wilcox) Zentz, Bourbon, IN Libby Leatherman Ehinger Libby51549@yahoo.com I knew JK from North Manchester. He always sat behind me in Home Room and he was always so much fun. I always admired how he could be so positive and smiling all the time. I never forgot what a nice guy he was. My heart goes out to you Emily, I can't even begin to imagine your pain. May God bless you and know that you are in my prayers. Maureen Merritt mmerritt76@aol.com I am very sorry to hear of Joe's death. He was a classmate of mine at IUN, and although I have not seen him since graduation, Joe would be one that was hard to forget. My prayers are with you. May you find comfort in that Joe will always be smiling down on you, always with you. Pat (Noe) Hay forveterans49@yahoo.com I was a classmate of J.K.'s at Manchester High and remember him as a friendly, nice guy. I am so sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you and all the family. Carolyn Leffel lefcar@resident.timbercrest.org I hadn't seen JK for number of years. I had a note from him when his Uncle Larry died in 2003. I moved to TImbercrest Retirement Home in N.Manchester in 2004. JK died doing what he liked to do. You can be thankful for that. If you ever come to N. Manchester be sure to look me up. Carolyn Leffel, (Mrs. Larry Leffel) Joseph Smolders and Margaret Hecimovich dr.joe@sympatico.ca Dear Emily; Margaret and I are very very sorry to learn that Joe and his son Jeremiah where lost to you and to us. Our most heart-felt condolences go out to you and Joe's family. As you probably knew from Joe, I was really looking forward to going on the Alsek with you guys. Only serious personal circumstances prevented me from going. I am very sad for you, Emily, that Joe passed away so soon. He died doing what he loved with the people he loved. If there is anything we can do for you please let us know. A donation in Joe and Jeremiah's names will be sent to McPaw's Animal Shelter. When you have the time and the emotional wherewithal could you tell us what the circumstances were that led to their deaths. Keep well. Most sincerely, Margaret Hecimovich and Joe Smolders Maureen Danielson Emily, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. We had been out of town and I just happened to pick up an old newspaper and read of Joe's passing. Please know that I am thinking of you. I hope that many great memories of your time together will help to ease your pain. Love, Maureen Betsy Tokarsky silver_star_37@hotmail.com I know some time has passed since the accident, but I am deeply saddened that Joe is gone. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Tanaya & lay-nah Morris (Laramie, WY) moon23lar@yahoo.com Emily & Family: Please know that Joe was very dear to us, and we were heartbroken to hear of his death. We will remember him fondly as a person with great love and even greater spirit. He touched us deeply in the short time we knew him and are proud to call him friend. Please let us know if there is anything that you might need...