John J. Gallek

Southern Shores, NC – John J. Gallek, 91, formerly of Slickville, PA, died unexpectedly in Southern Shores, NC on March 6, 2013. He was born January 9, 1922 in Slickville, PA, the son of the late Stanley and Victoria Plizga Gallek. He was a retired construction laborer and was a longtime member of the St. Sylvester RC Church, its’ Holy Name Society and the American Legion Post 18 and most recently Holy Redeemer RC Church, Kitty Hawk, NC. He found great pleasure and joy in roasting pigs and chickens for the Church and Legion Post events.

He served honorably in the US Army during WWII, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant as a member of the 84th Infantry Division that served in Germany and Belgium and whose members held Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years Betty Harr Gallek, four brothers, Frank, Joseph, Andrew and Walter Gallek; and six sisters, Victoria Sieczkowski, Mary Bakes, Katherine Bowman, Blanche Dusic, Stella Gallek and Julia Kowalski and a grandson, Benjamin J. Gallek.

He is survived by his daughter, Patricia of Southern Shores; two sons, Stanley and wife Debra of Saltsburg and Larry of Southern Shores; five grandchildren, Matthew and wife Megan, Craig, Nathan, Jessica Clawson and husband Ray, and Pamela; five great grandsons, Nicholas, Lucas, Gabriel and Zachariah Gallek ; and Gabriel Clawson.

Friends will be received for Mr. Gallek’s family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at BASH-NIED FUNERAL HOME, 152 Abbe Place, Delmont, 724-468-8381. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Sylvester Roman Catholic Church in Slickville with Father Salvatore “Sam” Lamendola as celebrant. Interment will follow at Twin Valley Memorial Park in Delmont with full military honors provided by VFW Post 33, of Greensburg . Memorial remembrances may be made in Mr. Gallek’s name to the St. Sylvester Roman Catholic Church, Box 307, Slickville, PA 15684.A memorial service at Holy Redeemer RC Church in Kitty Hawk, NC will be held at a future date.

Condolences to the family may be expressed via the on-line register at www.gallopfuneralservices.com.

Gallop Funeral Services, Nags Head, NC and Bash-Nied Funeral Home, Delmont, PA were entrusted with arrangements.