John J. Voycik
John J. Voycik, 92, of Waynesburg, died peacefully Sunday, December 30, 2012, in his home.
He was born May 10, 1920, in Bradenville, a son of the late John P. and Sophia Karpiel Voycik.
On September 25, 1943, he married Virginia Pirillo, who died September 8, 2003.
Mr. Voycik was a retired coal miner. He worked as a foreman at Gateway Mine for 23 years.
During World War II, he served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, 307th Engineers in Holland, the Ardennes and Battle of the Bulge. His division was known as the Battered Bastards of Bastogne. Because of his Polish heritage and ability to speak the language, he assisted greatly in the liberation of the Ludwigslust Concentration Camp at Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. He said what he saw made him question “how one human could do this to another.” He was awarded a Purple Heart and the Order of Wilhelm.
He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Waynesburg, American Legion Post 330 and Veterans of Foreign Wars 4793, both of Waynesburg, and Knights of Columbus. He was a former Boy Scout leader.
Surviving are a daughter, Gloria Ring of Aurora, Colo.; a son, John J. Voycik and wife Diane of Beaver; eight grandchildren, Dr. Jamie Ring and wife Carla, Dr. Christina Ring, Melissa Susie and husband David, John J. Voycik and wife Caitlin and Matthew, Hali, Francis and Stephen Voycik; four great-grandchildren, Cameron and Madeline Susie, Keira Ring and John Voycik V; a sister, Josephine Starr of Parma, Ohio; several nieces and nephews; and his caregiver and companion, Jacqueline Wilfson.
Deceased are a son, Francis X. Voycik; three sisters, Kathryn Waligora, Ann Gigliotti and Mary Zuback; and two brothers, Joseph Voycik and Tony Voycik.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Behm Funeral Homes Inc., 182 West High Street, Waynesburg, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 5, in St. Ann Catholic Church, 232 East High Street, Waynesburg, with the Rev. Richard Thompson as celebrant. Interment will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Waynesburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies, St. Jude Hospital, or a veterans hospital. Condolences may be offered at www.behmfh.com.