Funeral will be Thursday for the Rev. John S. Kanyuch, 3596 Nora St., Clark, former pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage. He died at 4:10 p.m. Saturday (12-16-95) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. He was 86.

Mr. Kanyuch was born March 29, 1909, in Naticoke, PA., to Andrew and Suzanna S. Suchko Kanyuck.

He graduated from Naticoke High School in 1930 and received his bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., where he was awarded a teacher's certificate for secondary education in English and history.

From 1935-38, he attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, in preparation for ministry. Shortly after graduating, he received an exchange fellowship from the Institute of International Education and studied abroad for a year at Charles University, Prague, and Commenius University, Bratislava.

He completed Old Testament studies at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, and in secondary education at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and received teaching certification from Minnesota State Board of Education.

Mr. Kanyuch was ordained by the Slovak Zion Synod of United Lutheran Church in America, May 30, 1940. Later he pastored at Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Hazelton, Pa., until 1952; and was instrumental in the building of the new church in 1946 while pastoring at Prince of Glory Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. From July 1, 1965, to Dec. 31, 1976, he pastored at church in Hermitage. Under his pastorate, the church on Morefield Road was built in 1970.

After his retirement, he was a supply minister for other congregations, including St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ellwood City.

The Hermitage church named him pastor emeritus May 24, 1987 and gave him a plaque on June 11 this year making his 55th anniversary of ordination.

The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod honored him on his 50th and 55th anniversaries at Synod Assemblies at Thiel College, Greenville. He also served on synodical committees.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Mary Guzikovszka, whom he married Aug. 5, 1939; two daughters, Mrs. John (Lydia Suzanne) Strand, Burnsville, Minn., and Mary Marlene Kanuck, Lancaster, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Mueller, Nanticoke; a brother, George Kanuck, Booksville, Fla; five grandchildren; and two great-granchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Helen Hirko, Suzanne Walting, Helen Gomer, and Mary Kanyuck; and a brother, the Rev. Andrew Kanyuck.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Road, Hermitage, 16148.

Calling hours; 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday (12-20-95) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Service: Funeral Liturgy in Celebration of the Resurrection at 1 p.m. Thursday (12-21-95) in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage, with the Rev. Paul Spring, bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, presiding, and the Rev. Dr. Paul D. Weber, pastor, of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, preaching.

Burial: Naticoke (Pa.) Cemetery