Leo J. Kanaskie died on July 31, 1957. During the era when local baseball teams were prominent in the greater Lykens Valley area, he established himself as a player and manager. His obituary appeared the Shamokin News-Dispatch on July 31, 1957:
FORMER SHAMOKIN BALL PLAYER DIES
Leo F. Kanaskie, 61, of 839 East Chestnut Street, local painter and paper hanger and former baseball player, died this morning in Geisinger Memorial Hospital, Danville, where he was a patient during the past three weeks.
Mr. Kanaskie, a son of the late John Kanaskie and Catherine [Kimmel] Kanaskie, was born November 11, 1895, in Shamokin. He attended St. Edward’s school and was employed at the Luke Fidler Colliery and later at the Henry Clay Colliery before he learned the trade of painter and paper hanger.
The late Chestnut Street man was employed by Wayne Roush until his recent illness. He held the office of financial secretary of Painter’s Union No. 689 for a number of years.
Mr. Kanaskie served as Democratic committeeman in the First Precinct in the Fifth Ward for 22 years.
Mr. Kanaskie began his baseball career as a third baseman for the Old White Stars. He later played with the Springfield Club, and several years later was a member of the Harrisburg team during the period that club was in the Tri-State League. Mr. Kanaskie also played baseball for Mahanoy City and Morea clubs.
During later years Mr. Kanaskie managed the Enterprise Orange Discs, Bunker Hill, Uniontown and St. Francis Teams. He became widely known throughout the community because of his interest in baseball and other sports.
Mr. Kanaskie was married to the former Victoria Thomas on February 5, 1917, in St. Stanislaus Church. Survivors include the widow, two sons, Walter Kanaskie, Shamokin, and Chester Kanaskie, Bristol; a brother, John Kanaskie, Detroit, Michigan; three sisters, Mrs. Rose Stark and Miss Leona Kanaskie, Shamokin, and Mrs. Frank Kurtz, Philadelphia. Five grandchildren survive also.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning at 10:00 in St. Stanislaus Church. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the Lucas Funeral Home, 830 East race Street, from tomorrow evening until time of services Saturday morning.
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Obituary from Newspapers.com.