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Born in Livingston, Kenneth graduated from High Point Regional High School in 1999 before moving to Dingmans Ferry, PA, his obituary says. He had worked as a train conductor with NJ Transit for the past 23 years.
Kenneth is remembered as a dirt bike and motorcycle enthusiast who loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his cherished wife, Kathryn (nee Bathgate) Leissler and their two sons Kenneth III (17) and William Leissler (13); his sisters and their significant others Emily and Brian Ackerman and Jessica and Michael Whisman; his In-Laws William and Beverly Bathgate; his sisters in law and their significant others Jessica and Matt Storch and Carrie Mathews and Dwayne Coneeny; as well as his adoring nieces and nephews, Brian and Zachary Ackerman, Regan and Camryn Tryde, and Madox and Macy Mathews.
Meanwhile, nearly $9,000 had been raised on a GoFundMe launched out of Montague by a Port Jervis conductor and friend of Kenneth’s who describes the impact the devoted dad’s spirited and upbeat personality left on those around him.
“He was always the first with a joke, stories, impression, or anything else to put a smile on yours or a passenger’s face,” Jonathan Hagen writes. “From day one working out of Port he helped guide me and many others on this crazy career path and he will always be remembered as a great trainman and a devoted father.”
The proceeds will be sent to the family for Kenneth’s final expenses, Hagen says.
Kenneth’s memorial was held Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home in Newton. Donations were also being made in Kenneth’s memory to the United Methodist Church in Branchville (PO Box 509, Branchville, NJ 07826-0509) and the Center for Prevention and Counseling (#61 Spring St. Newton, NJ 07860).
“Kenny would take any chance he had to brag about his boys and their accomplishments, always showing photos and videos,” writes Hagen. “I’m really going to miss the smile he got on his face talking about their futures…I'm asking everyone to donate what they can to help ease some of the financial burden his wife and children will suffer in the near future and to help reach the goals he had for his amazing family.”
Click here to view/donate on GoFundMe.
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