LeRoy Deusen

Cobleskill- LeRoy "Roy" Van Deusen, ("Pa"/ "Pop"), 87, of Mineral Springs Road, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2012, at the Cobleskill Regional Hospital after a recent struggle with cancer.

He was born in Decatur, NY on May 4, 1925 and was one of four children born to Harry and Lucy Mae (Golda) Van Deusen. Roy attended Worcester Central School and received his GED from the former Cobleskill Central School District following an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1946.

Roy was a lifelong area resident of the Worcester/Cobleskill area. He was a life member (63 years) and past Assistant Fire Chief of the Cobleskill Volunteer Fire Dept. He was also a member of the Cobleskill Eagles Aeries Lodge #2695. An avid snowmobile rider, he spent many winters snowmobiling in and around the Caribou, Maine area as well as being a member of the Summit Conservation/Snowmobile Clubs. He served on the Otschodela Council of the Boy Scouts of American and was a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Roy was employed by the former A.L. Parsons Ford in Central Bridge, NY until opening his own business, Warnerville Body Shop, in 1964 and TST Sales, Inc. in 1972. He was also a bus driver for many years with the Cobleskill School District. In 1974 he became a teaching assistant at SUNY Cobleskill until retiring in 1994. Following his retirement, he kept busy with his carpentry work around the county, fondly being referred to as "Roy Van, the deck man". In addition to treasured times with family and friends, Roy thoroughly enjoyed his weekly card playing gatherings with his many friends.

Roy was married to the late Shirley Tillapaugh Van Deusen and is survived by his wife, Nora (Witt) Van Deusen; three sons and their families: Douglas and Diana (Becker), Erin, Paul, and Tyler France; Larry and Jeanine (Wright), Marc and Sarah; Jeff and Diane (Cleary) and their daughter Sydney Zao-lie. He is also survived by two sisters: Charlotte Van Deusen of Rhinebeck, NY and Jane Brandt of Caroga Lake, NY; his brother: Richard, (Frances) Van Deusen of Hyndsville; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial celebration will be held at the Cobleskill Fire Department on Saturday, January 5, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Fireman's Prayer Service at 7:30 PM. There will be no other calling hours

Memorial contributions may be made to either Cobleskill Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 697, Cobleskill, NY 12043 or Cobleskill Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box 451, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Arrangements are entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill and Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, 134 River St., Middleburgh.