Frank E. Jarecki

Frank E. Jarecki, age 79, of Erie, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, October 24, 2010, at his residence. He was born in Poland on September 7, 1931, the son of the late Ignatius and Valerie Wnek Jarecki. He graduated from High School in Poland and the Jablonski Academy in Krakow and then went on to attend UCLA University and then graduated from Alliance College where he received his Doctorate with honors in Engineering In 1953, Frank escaped from Poland piloting a MiG-15 fighter. He landed in Denmark and after a brief stop in London came to the United States. While in London he was recognized for his courage by the Free Polish Government. In the U.S. Frank was welcomed by President Eisenhower and granted American citizenship by a special Act of Congress. The MiG 15 was an intelligence prize of enormous value to the Free World and especially to the USAF. Frank's flight suit was inducted into the Smithsonian Museum in December of 2003. Frank opened and operated Jarecki Industries in Fairview for over 40 years. He was a skilled engineer and designer of custom valves. He was a member of the Kahkwa Club, the Erie Maennerchor Club, and the Erie Yacht Club. Frank was an avid boater and was very dedicated to his work. One of his greatest joys was being a grandpa. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Valerie M. Jarecki. Frank is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandra Hollenbaugh Jarecki; three daughters, Alison Edfors and her husband, Eric, of Middletown, Md., Erika Jarecki and her fiancé, Kevin Sovey, of Leesburg, Va., and Johanna Lyudmirsky and her husband, Ilya, of Santa Monica, Calif.; three sons, Frank E. Jarecki Jr. and his wife, Kim, Peter A. Jarecki and his wife, Kristen, all of Fairview, and John F. Jarecki and his wife, Barbara, of Mich. He is further survived by eight grandchildren, J.P and Michael Jarecki, Johanna, Vanessa, Alexandra, and Greta Edfors, and Steven and Thomas Jarecki. Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 W 26th Street (at Powell Ave.) on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend services there on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association-NW Pa., 1128 State St. # 301, Erie, PA 16501 or to the charity of ones choice. Send flowers and condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.