George Leroy Nitsche, 71, of Leesburg Station Road, Springfield Township, Mercer County, died at 1:50 a.m. Thursday after a long illness.

Born in Hooker, Concord Township, July 18, 1936, he was the son of George and Maude Donaldson Nitsche.

He had worked at National Castings in Sharon for 20 years, and later worked at Swank Construction in New Kensington for five years. He then worked for Grove City Paving for 14 years and retired in 2002.

Mr. Nitsche was an Army veteran.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, gardening and being with his grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, Janet Marie Morrow Nitsche, whom he married Sept. 19, 1959; a son, Robert L. Nitsche and his fiancée Barb, of Coraopolis; two daughters, Susan D. and her husband, Steve Rea, of Volant and Christina and her husband, Mike Graner, of New Castle; a sister, Blanche Clark of Chicora; five grandchildren, Lisa, Cody, Dustin, Logan and Mickale; and a great-grandson, J.R.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Wolfe.

<B>NITSCHE</B> — Friends of George Leroy Nitsche, who died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, were received Sunday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, Leesburg., where services were held at 11 a.m. today. The Rev. Jeff Harter, spiritual care and bereavement counselor of Family Hospice and Palliative Care of Hermitage, officiated. Burial was at the Crestview Memorial Park.Memorial contributions may be made to the Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 1965 Shenango Valley Freeway, Suite 2, Hermitage, PA 16148.Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.