David, “Dave” S. Leitenberger, 74 passed away Monday, September 16, 2024 due to Alzheimer’s disease. He was born December 27, 1949 to Conrad and Katherine (Bogantz) Leitenberger in Mansfield. He graduated from Mansfield senior high in 1968 and from OSU in 1973 where he received his degrees in anthropology and geology. He served in the United States Air Force for 37 years as a load master on the C130 aircraft achieving 6857 hours of flying with the 164th Airlift Squadron Ohio Air National Guard. One of the highlights of his career was being able to drink a Russian submarine commander under the table! He had attained the rank of senior master sergeant when he retired. He also had quite a career with the adult parole authority, starting as a parole officer, senior officer, and unit supervisor. In 1995 he was approached by a common pleas court judge to develop the county probation department. The new department started off with one pretrial officer and three intensive probation officers which had grown to 20 employees when he retired in 2018. He developed the community alternative center as an alternative sentencing program. Additionally, he contracted with Tether Link to develop an electronic monitoring device that his department owned with the offenders paying for their monitoring. He wrote grants and received money from the federal and state government. His department worked closely with local police, sheriff and marshals departments for the community policing program. His office received numerous awards throughout the state for his innovative ideas of community supervision. He created the Community Corrections Board which won numerous awards for their work. Dave was a featured speaker at national conferences and his department was considered premier and was implemented by many other counties. He developed the Reentry Court and Drug Court. Dave had the forethought to start charging offenders for their drug testing along with monthly supervision fees. His innovative programs saved Richland County taxpayers millions of dollars.
Dave is survived by his wife, Kay Leitenberger; two daughters, Sarah (Jason) McElroy and Kelly Leitenberger; brother, Walt (Andi) Leitenberger; sisters-in-law, Lil and Sondra Leitenberger; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers; Richard Leitenberger, Albert Leitenberger, and Kenny Leitenberger.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Wappner Funeral Directors-Mansfield, 98 S. Diamond St. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 60 Mulberry St., Mansfield. David will be laid to rest with honors at Mansfield Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Life Luncheon following the graveside from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Mansfield Liederkranz, 1212 Silver Lane.
In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to Gary Sinise Foundation or Alzheimer’s Association. Mrs. Leitenberger would like to acknowledge the wonderful staff who cared for Dave at Cotter House Worthington and the phenomenal National Church Residences Hospice teen that meant the world to her. Wappner Funeral Directors-Mansfield is honored to serve the Leitenberger family.
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