Leo V. Ganci

Leo V. Ganci, age 74, passed away peacefully April 9, 2025, surrounded by family. Born July 18, 1950, Leo lived a life marked by dedication, quiet strength, and a deep appreciation for commitment, family, and life's simple joys.

Leo's career was as diverse and hardworking as he was. He began as a skilled meat-cutter, eventually owning and operating Ganci's Country Market, where he served his community with dedication and pride. Later, Leo worked at ComEd Braidwood and he finished his time as a school bus driver for the Herscher School District.

One of Leo's greatest joys was flying. He was a proud pilot and loved sharing this passion with others. Leo donated numerous flights to local organizations, using his talents to give back in meaningful ways. Leo also loved cooking and held a recent focus on baking sourdough bread. He cherished his time on Table Rock Lake, especially if it involved hurling his kids and grandkids off inner tubes at high speeds (with love, of course).  Gardening and planting flowers brought Leo joy and peace.

He had a deep appreciation for cars, collecting and caring for many exciting vehicles throughout his life. His first car, a metallic purple Ford Fairlane, sparked a lifelong interest in vehicles and car shows. Though he hesitated to hand over the keys, Leo eventually allowed his children to share in his enthusiasm-with plenty of reminders to "take it easy."

A skilled and competitive Euchre player, Leo enjoyed "friendly" games with his family, always bringing a quiet determination to the table. A master Euchre player, Leo could bluff better than most politicians and kept his skills sharp by regularly beating his children and grandchildren-graciously, of course. Mostly.  Trivial Pursuit, however, was a different story.

Above all, Leo was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. Leo and Mar married July 15, 1972 at Maternity BMV Church and enjoyed 53 years of marriage. His family meant everything to him, and he showed his love through his actions, always ready to lend a hand, solve a problem, or offer steady (and definitely firm) support. There was little Leo couldn't figure out, and his expertise and dedication will be deeply missed.

Leo is survived by his wife, Marlene (White) Ganci; his children Carrie Clodi, Darin (Ursula) Ganci, and Eric (Jen) Ganci; his beloved grandchildren Jocelyn, Dalton, Kirsten, August, and Ethan; his brother Alan (Sondra) Ganci; his sister Annette (Tom) Kunz; his sister-in-law Jolene (Jim) Maass; brothers-in-law Linden (Karen) White and Craig Long; and an extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Leo V. Ganci Sr. and Ruth Ganci (Wolford), and his sister-in-law Christine Long.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 3rd, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Arbor Grove Clubhouse (709 Arbor Parkway, Bourbonnais, IL 60914). Please come ready to share stories, laughter, and maybe even a spirited Euchre match or two in Leo's honor.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Uplifted Care and/or Maternity BVM Food Pantry. 

Arrangements are by Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais.