MILLINOCKET – William R. “Bill” Leino, 80, beloved husband of Barbara A. (Barnes) Leino, passed away Saturday, April 28, 2007. He was born April 6, 1927, in Millinocket, the son of Frank and Sophia (Tomsii) Leino. Bill was a graduate of Stearns High School, Class of 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in Okinawa. He was retired from Great Northern Paper Co., where he was employed for more than 40 years as an electrician. He was a member of the Elks Lodge No. 1521, Millinocket. Friends and lodge brothers will miss his super chili and sloppy joes. He was also a member of VFW Post No. 4154, Millinocket; the Hillcrest Golf Club; and was a founding member of the Millinocket Art Society. In his younger years, he was an avid hunter and fisherman, making his own lures and tying his own flies, until one of his kids sneezed and blew on the works in progress, sending feathers and fur flying too many times. He loved his Red Sox, reading western novels and followed the University of Maine Black Bears Hockey teams throughout the years. Bill was a great cook, his specialties being apple pies and homemade bread. He was also a very talented, prize-winning artist; painting beautiful landscapes and many wonderful scenes of Mount Katahdin and the area. He loved the game of golf and was especially proud of his 2004 hole-in-one. He loved the great outdoors and being with family and friends at camp on Ambejejus Lake. He built his first house and later, two camps at the lake. Bill was a great kidder and tagged his family with lifelong nicknames. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Barbara of Millinocket; two daughters, Billie-Jean “Jell” Brilliant and her husband, Dwight “Allen,” of Millinocket and Julie “Sooz” Young of Springvale; four sons, Frank “Francoise” Leino and his wife, Mary Ann, of Millinocket, Rick “Dude” Leino of Inverness, Fla., Mike “Siggie” Leino and his wife, Carla “Jonesie,” of Blue Hill, and Jeff “Roxie” Leino of Hampden; nine grandchildren, Shaun Brilliant, Julie Pulkkinen, Melissa Emerton, Joshua Stevens, Angela Gibson, Jonathan Leino, Katelyn, Alyson, and Caralyn Leino; three stepgrandchildren, Kristi, Michele, and John; 12 great-grand-children, Sam, Mike, Shaun, Taylor, Olivia, Grace, Hannah, Sarah, Lexie, Treyce, Caden, and Trent; three great-stepgrandchildren, Nick, Danielle, and Meshel; a special brother-in-law, Ted Pavone; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Albert and Frances Bishop; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Bill was predeceased by his parents; three brothers, Carl, George and Oni; and four sisters, Tamie “Tim” Pasanen, Lydia Pavone, Marie Russo, and Rose Leino. Friends are invited to visit with the family 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Bouchard-Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack St., Millinocket, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. Spring interment will be at Millinocket Cemetery, Millinocket. Gifts in memory of Bill may be sent to the Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field St., Millinocket, ME 04462. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.lamsonfh.com
WILLIAM R. ‘BILL’ LEINO
