William J. Leber

William J. Leber of Mountainside passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 21, 2022.  Visitation will be Friday, April 29th from 3 to 6pm at Higgins & Bonner Funeral Home 582 Springfield Avenue Westfield.  A mass of Christian burial will take place on Saturday April 30th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mountainside followed by internment at Fairview Cemetery Westfield.

Bill was born August 5, 1930 in Newark N.J.  He was the youngest of eight children born to John and Mary Leber, immigrants from Austria-Hungary .  After graduating from St. Benedict’s Prep, he held several local jobs before finding his passion in sales working for Miller Steel, a career he loved and didn’t permanently leave until becoming an octogenarian.  

Bill served in the Korean War in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division from 1952 to 1953.  He served as Company Clerk,typing correspondence for the officers, before being promoted to Staff Sergeant. He liked to jokingly credit his typing skills with keeping him from harm’s way for part of the war.  

After the war, Bill received his bachelor’s degree at Seton Hall University under the G.I. bill and it was during this time that he reconnected with his kindergarten classmate, Lorraine Kanya.  They were married in 1957 and in 1960 moved to Mountainside to raise their family.

A devout Catholic, Bill was a founding member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.  He served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a significant contributor to the formation of the adoration chapel.His weekly delivery of bread donated from local bakeries to St. Joseph’s Social Center in Elizabeth was a big part of his Christian ministry during the last decade of his life.  He was an active member of the Mountainside VFW post, serving as commander for several years and led the post’s annual poppy sales. In retirement, he enjoyed spending time with friends at the Deutscher Club of Clark. 

Bill loved spending time at his home at the Jersey shore with family, entertaining friends, and was often seen riding his bicycle to the beach, taking a dip, and always being ready for happy hour.  

Bill was predeceased by his loving wife Lorraine and his sevensiblings.  He is survived by his son William (Diane), daughter Jean, daughter Janet (John), seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be madein his memory to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School 520 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Newark, NJ 07102

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