Phillip J. Leisure , age 73 of rural Fairmount, slipped away from us to begin his next big adventure in the quiet of the afternoon on September 7, 2021 at Riverview Health in Noblesville.  We hope they have motorcycles in Heaven.

Phil was born January 5, 1948 in Elwood, the son of Max W. and Janiece (Jarvis) Leisure.  Phil grew up on a farm with all the adventures little farm boys create: paddling down the creek in a homemade boat, catching fish for his Grandma, and driving a tractor at an early age.  As he grew up, so did the size of his toys until he was farming many acres.  Phil graduated in 1966 from Fairmount High School before earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business and Industrial Education from Ball State.  Early in life, he was an industrial arts teacher at Elwood High School for one year but continued his work in farming the remainder of his life.  He was a sixth-generation Indiana farmer who owned and managed the family farm - Shady Nook Farm.  Phil truly loved the lifestyle, business, and science of farming.  He was one of the first in the area who put the plow away to better focus on the quality of the soil; to implement precision agriculture; and to replant woods where they had once grown.  He married Marilyn (Taylor) Holschuh on September 8, 2001, and they shared 20 years of marriage together.

Phil's love of agriculture took him to many places and gave him many opportunities.  He was in the first class of the Ag Leadership Institute; was invited as one of only 6 farm advisors on ag policy in Washington D.C.; and was a State Fair Board Director for 11 years.  His love of adventure also took him to the world outside of Indiana.  This included Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Central America, Burma, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America.  Phil visited China on a People to People program.  Wherever he went, he wanted to see how they farm – even when seeing a new country from a motorcycle.

Phil was a longtime member of the Knox Chapel Cemetery Board; served as the Green Township Trustee for several terms; and served in the Indiana National Guard for 5½  years starting in 1971.  He was an avid motorcycle rider most of his life and especially enjoyed researching genealogy and local history.  In the last few years, Phil's health began to fail but his spirit remained strong.  He will be greatly missed.  Phil's family would like to thank Dr. Saltagi, Dr. Habib, Riverview Hospital, and St. Vincent-Ascension Home Health for giving the family more time together.

Phil's family includes his wife, Marilyn Holschuh-Leisure of Fairmount; two daughters, Dr. Sara (Scott) Cox of Arcadia and Kelly (Mike) Rust of New Braunfels, TX; son, Taylor (Elizabeth) Leisure of Fairmount; two stepdaughters, Carrie Holschuh of San Francisco, CA, Ildiko (Adam) Holschuh-Therneau of Minneapolis, MN; stepson, Arno (Lily) Holschuh of Berkley, CA; and 10 combined grandchildren, Kathryn Cox, Nathan Cox, Abigail Rust, Jackson Rust, Ramona Jacobson, Adalu Jacobson, Cora Therneau, Remi Therneau, Sonora Holschuh, and Meadow Holschuh; 2 nephews, Brian Gordon and Joe Gordon; and niece, Suzanne Gordon.  Phil's extended family includes his close friend and long-time farm employee, Bill Scott, who helped grow the farm to its current level.  Phil was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Bonnie Lou Leisure and Susan D. Gordon.

A life celebration memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm Monday, September 20, 2021 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with his son-in-law, Scott Cox officiating.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm prior to the service on September 20 ^th at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home.  The family requests precautions for health and safety be followed including face masks and social distancing.  Burial of Phil's ashes will take place privately at the Knox Chapel Cemetery in rural Fairmount.  Memorial contributions may be made to Harmony Christian Church through the funeral home.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.copherfeslermay.com .