John Stofan Jr., 415 Hoon Ave., Farrell, Pa., passed away at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday (12-30-08) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System following an extended illness. He was 85.
He was born on March 26, 1923 in Farrell the son of John and Helen Lahet Stofan.
A lifelong area resident, he graduated from Farrell High School in 1941.
Mr. Stofan was a shop steward for the former Sharon Transformer Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he worked for 38 years and retired in 1983.
He belonged to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage.
He enjoyed fast pitch softball and played at one time for Westinghouse.
An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time at his mountain retreat in West Hickory, Pa (Forest County). He was a gifted archer who competed successfully in many instinctive archery tournaments through the years at both Western Reserve Fish and Game Protective Association, Lackawannock Twp., and with the Farrell Sportsman's Club of which he was a founding member.
In addition to the sportsman clubs, he belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post # 5286, Farrell, and Post #6233, West Middlesex.
A decorated veteran of WWII, he served in the Pacific Theater in New Guinea and was assigned to an anti aircraft artillery battalion.
His first wife the former Elizabeth Caminiti whom he married on December 20, 1947, passed away on May 7, 1976.
He married the former Ruth R. Losey on December 28, 1977; she passed away November 21, 2007.
He is survived by his son Mark Stofan and his wife Marlene, West Middlesex, Pa. and two step daughters Patty J. Prosser and her husband Edward, Girard, Oh; and Lanette Dickson and her husband Thomas, Geneva, Oh; and one step son Carl W. Losey Jr., Girard; five step grandchildren. He also leaves a very special friend and caregiver, Becky McNulty of Hermitage.
In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his daughter Karen Stofan, and a brother Andrew Stofan.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the charity of the donor's Choice.
Calling hours and Services: In keeping with John's wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. Condolences may be sent to his family by visiting the web site www.mcgoniglefuneralhomeand crematory.com
Interment: Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Hermitage. Arrangements by the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc.