Leo Francis Persails

Leo F. Persails, 84, of Gaines, MI, passed away after a long winter’s battle with pneumonia on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Avon Park, Florida. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 11:00 AM on Monday, April 22, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 9450 Duffield Road, Gaines, MI 48436 with Fr. Carl Simon as celebrant. The family will receive visitors from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. A rosary will be prayed on Sunday evening at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
Son of William F. Persails and Mary L. McCormick, he was born in Flint, MI. He graduated from Beecher High School in 1958. On March 3, 1961, he married his loving wife of 63 years, Jeannine Kay (Duley). Leo was hired in the post office as a hand sort and letter sorting machine operator in 1962. Soon after, he proudly became a dedicated union member of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). He was elected President of the Flint local, where the office is currently named “The Lion’s Den” in his honor. In 1972, he was elected as the President of the Michigan Postal Workers Union (MPWU) and served as such until 1984, when he was elected as a National Business Agent handling arbitration workloads alongside two other NBAs. In 1995, Leo served as the Central Regional Coordinator for the APWU while also serving on the National Executive Board. He handled thousands of arbitration cases to support his union brother and sisters through 2002 when he retired after a close election for APWU National President. Leo knew the importance of solidarity, not only at work, but first and foremost at home, where he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. After retirement, he and his wife Jeannine enjoyed many years as snowbirds in Avon Park, Florida, playing golf, and spending time with friends and family. Leo enjoyed playing guitar, singing country music songs, and cruising with the top down, always with his wife by his side.
Leo is survived by his wife, Jeannine; four children, Leo (Kelly Hartwick), Wayne (Vicki), Douglas (Teresa), Sheila (Greg) Best; twelve grandchildren, Michael, Dakota, Shelby H., Matthew, Jacob, Trevor, and Shelby J. Persails, Amanda Tiemer, Sarah DeDona, Maci, Madilyn, and Carli Best; six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jim (Jan) Duley; sister-in-law, Cathy (Tony) Carobine; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary; two children- a daughter and a son shortly after childbirth; his brothers, Bill Persails and Norman McCormick, and parents-in-law, Thomas & Jennie Duley;  brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Tommie and Mary Duley, Ronald and Marian Wilcox. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com