Obituary for Sam Luke Piranio, Jr.
Sam Luke Piranio, Jr., passed peacefully on the morning of August 23, 2019, in Leesville, Louisiana.
Born in Patterson on July 22, 1940, Sam grew up in Leesville. His childhood was full of fun, family and friends. Those memories and friendships lasted a lifetime. During the course of his life, he was a Scout, Wampus Cat, Green Wave, Demon, Teke, Lion, Jaycee, and Knight. Throughout his residence in Leesville, he was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
Sam was a proud alum of Leesville High School, class of 1958. He loved to play ball. He was a quarterback and was named Co-Captain, First Team All District. He also lettered in baseball, basketball and track. Sam was Student Council president and “Mr. LHS”. Despite his small stature, he earned a football scholarship to Tulane University, which was in the Southeastern Conference at the time. After an injury, he attended Northwestern State University, where he met his wife of 57 years, Cynthia, and graduated in 1962. Throughout his life, Sam maintained and cherished the friendships he formed growing up.
In his professional life, perhaps the most important accomplishment to him was the period he operated Sam’s Shoe Store on Third Street in Leesville. The business, started by his parents, Sam, Sr., and Ruby, allowed him to raise his family in the town he loved near many friends and family. He was civically active in the Lion’s Club, Jaycees, and Knights of Columbus. Changes in commerce eventually led to the closing of the store and was followed by residences in Baton Rouge, northern New Jersey, and the Dallas, Texas, area, before he and Cynthia returned to Leesville. Whatever challenges life threw at Sam, he met with stoic resolve. Sam was an avid sportsman and sports fan. There was always a ballgame on TV and often one on the radio, too. He continued to golf until the diabetes he fought for almost forty years no longer allowed him to see the ball.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Luke Piranio, Sr., and Ruby Ann Young Piranio.
He leaves his wife, Cynthia Knight Piranio; son, Duane Piranio, and daughter-in-law, Amanda White of Moss Bluff; daughter, Theresa Simon, and son-in-law, Carl Simon, of Leesville; and son, Kirk Piranio, and daughter-in-law, Cristina Souza-Piranio, of McKinney, Texas; sister, Rosalie Allain of Anacoco; sister, Carrie Sue Liliedahl, and brother-in-law, Gayle Liliedahl, of Leesville; sister-in-law, Judy Knight of Belleville, New Jersey; brother-in-law, Keith Knight of Montclair, New Jersey; and sister-in-law, Lisa Knight of Wayne, New Jersey. He also leaves five grandchildren: Nathan Simon of Lake Charles, Jacob Piranio and wife, Laura, of Altus, Oklahoma; Madelynn Piranio Powers and husband, Corey Powers, of Longmont, Colorado; Joseph Piranio of Austin, Texas; Henry Piranio in Moss Bluff; four great-grandchildren: Carolyn and Caden Piranio and Isla and Beck Powers; as well as many nieces and nephews and dear friends.
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Born in Patterson on July 22, 1940, Sam grew up in Leesville. His childhood was full of fun, family and friends. Those memories and friendships lasted a lifetime. During the course of his life, he was a Scout, Wampus Cat, Green Wave, Demon, Teke, Lion, Jaycee, and Knight. Throughout his residence in Leesville, he was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
Sam was a proud alum of Leesville High School, class of 1958. He loved to play ball. He was a quarterback and was named Co-Captain, First Team All District. He also lettered in baseball, basketball and track. Sam was Student Council president and “Mr. LHS”. Despite his small stature, he earned a football scholarship to Tulane University, which was in the Southeastern Conference at the time. After an injury, he attended Northwestern State University, where he met his wife of 57 years, Cynthia, and graduated in 1962. Throughout his life, Sam maintained and cherished the friendships he formed growing up.
In his professional life, perhaps the most important accomplishment to him was the period he operated Sam’s Shoe Store on Third Street in Leesville. The business, started by his parents, Sam, Sr., and Ruby, allowed him to raise his family in the town he loved near many friends and family. He was civically active in the Lion’s Club, Jaycees, and Knights of Columbus. Changes in commerce eventually led to the closing of the store and was followed by residences in Baton Rouge, northern New Jersey, and the Dallas, Texas, area, before he and Cynthia returned to Leesville. Whatever challenges life threw at Sam, he met with stoic resolve. Sam was an avid sportsman and sports fan. There was always a ballgame on TV and often one on the radio, too. He continued to golf until the diabetes he fought for almost forty years no longer allowed him to see the ball.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Luke Piranio, Sr., and Ruby Ann Young Piranio.
He leaves his wife, Cynthia Knight Piranio; son, Duane Piranio, and daughter-in-law, Amanda White of Moss Bluff; daughter, Theresa Simon, and son-in-law, Carl Simon, of Leesville; and son, Kirk Piranio, and daughter-in-law, Cristina Souza-Piranio, of McKinney, Texas; sister, Rosalie Allain of Anacoco; sister, Carrie Sue Liliedahl, and brother-in-law, Gayle Liliedahl, of Leesville; sister-in-law, Judy Knight of Belleville, New Jersey; brother-in-law, Keith Knight of Montclair, New Jersey; and sister-in-law, Lisa Knight of Wayne, New Jersey. He also leaves five grandchildren: Nathan Simon of Lake Charles, Jacob Piranio and wife, Laura, of Altus, Oklahoma; Madelynn Piranio Powers and husband, Corey Powers, of Longmont, Colorado; Joseph Piranio of Austin, Texas; Henry Piranio in Moss Bluff; four great-grandchildren: Carolyn and Caden Piranio and Isla and Beck Powers; as well as many nieces and nephews and dear friends.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
30
Aug
5:30 PM
- 8:00 PM
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
604 South 5th St.
Leesville , LA 71446
Funeral
Saturday
31
Aug
11:00 AM
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
604 South 5th St.
Leesville , LA 71446
Memorial Contribution
Leesville Alumni Association
PO Box 1381
Leesville, LA 71446
Leesville, LA 71446
American Diabetes Association
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