Robert Charles Leff, 89, of Delavan, died Dec. 28, 2013, at Vintage on the Ponds, Delavan. He was born Feb. 10, 1924, in New York City the son of Harry W. Leff and Florence Hutter.
He was a member of Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Later, he served as a Cub scoutmaster and scoutmaster.
His dedication to scouting was recognized when he was awarded the Scoutmaster’s Key by the national scouting organization. Robert was a U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1944 to 1947.
He married Mary Briggs in 1946. They divorced in 1998. The family moved to Delavan in 1953 to take a position with Sta-Rite Pump manufacturing where he was moved up from vice president of engineering and president of Sta-Rite from 1969 to 1973.
Bob holds two patents for his creative work with pumps and pump design. He was very active in the Delavan United Methodist Church and community affairs such as the Delavan Lake Sanitary District, the protection of Delavan Lake, Aram Public Library board member, Rotary Club and many other worthwhile organizations.
He was invited to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union to help set up new business models.
To mention all is accomplishments would take time and space. He was a talented man.
He is survived by former wife, Mary, who lives at Vintage on the Ponds, rural Delavan; children, Thomas P., an attorney in Wilmington, Del., Harriet E., an interior designer in San Francisco, Calif., Robert C. Jr., a manger with an airline in San Luis Obispo, Calif. A third son, Richard, died in 1992.
Bob has one brother, Martin J., who lives in Wayzata, Minn.; four grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan 11, at the Delavan United Methodist Church, 213 S. Second St., with the Rev. Stan Curtis officiating.
Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 1 p.m. until the time of services at the church.
A reception will follow the services in Fellowship Hall of the church.
Betzer Funeral Home, Delavan, is serving the family.
