Leonard S. Bielek

1947 - 2023

Leonard S. Bielek, 75, of Ponte Vedra, Fla., formerly of Natrona Heights, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the McGraw Center, Jacksonville, after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Leo was born Nov. 24,1947, in Natrona, a son of the late Helen (Plocki) and John Bielek. He worked as a repairman at Allegheny Ludlum, Brackenridge, for 32 years. He was a member of Crosswater Community Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Throughout high school at Apollo and into college at the University of Nebraska, Leo was a football player. He went to the 1966 Orange Bowl and 1967 Sugar Bowl as a Cornhusker. His passion after football turned to golf. Leo could be found playing up and down the east coast and was a golf ranger at Birdsfoot Golf Club for 15 years. In the past year, he played over 50 rounds of golf while fighting off pancreatic cancer. He played The Players Club Stadium course, Dye Valley, Slammer and Squire as well as the King and Bear golf courses, just to name a few. Leo is survived by his wife of 26 years, Betsy (Britton) Bielek; six daughters, Amy (Rick) Hepler, of Pittsburgh, Rachel (Jimmy) DeFalco, of East Vandergrift, Jennifer (Mark) Clifford, of Novi, Mich., Melissa (Andrew) Hipple, of Christiansburg, Va., Amy Szymarek, of Pittsburgh, and Erica (John) Dudash, of Ponte Vedra, Fla. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nichole Hepler, Anthony Hepler, Alyssa McFall, Joseph Bielek, Daniel DeFalco, Maggie Clifford, Millie Clifford, Britton Hipple, Nicholas Hipple, Elizabeth Hipple, Ashton Szymarek, Benjamin Szymarek, Mia Dudash and Lana Dudash. He is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends he loved dearly including his Birdsfoot extended family and his golf league friends. In addition to his parents, Leo was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene Bielek and Edward Bielek; and his sister, Antoinette Mazanek. Family and friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the REDMOND FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 High St., Freeport. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, at Redmond Funeral Home. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Freeport. To send a condolence visit, www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.