JOHN J. FELKER

FELKER
JOHN J.
84, passed away December 13, 2013. Former LTV executive and Retired Navy Captain. Born on April 8, 1929 in New York City and grew up in the South Bronx. He earned scholarships to De La Salle Institute and Manhattan College and an assistantship to Cornell University. He served as a naval officer during the Korean War. While in the Navy, he met and married his first wife, Jeanne Baleck from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He spent 42 years at J&L/LTV Steel in various capacities including supervisor of Labor Relations at the Pittsburgh Works, manager of Human Relations, manager of Industrial Relations for the Company's coal mining operations and director of Arbitration. Following his release from active duty, John remained affiliated with the Naval Reserve where he held various positions of increasing importance resulting in his ultimate promotion to Captain, from which position he retired after 30 years of service. He was a life member of the Reserve Officer's Association and the Association of the U.S. Navy. John was also active in the Knights of Columbus and was a Charter Member of two councils, one in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and one in Strongsville, Ohio, where he served in various capacities. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. John was very active in the Catholic Church. He was a Eucharistic Minister for over 30 years in the Pittsburgh and Strongsville Catholic Churches. Following the death of his first wife, Jeanne, in 1991, John married a widow, Mary Rose Straka. In addition to his wife, Mary Rose, John is survived by his daughters, Cynthia Leszunov (Nick) and Bonnie Shields (John); grandchildren, Jeanne Matucheski, Tiffany Newell, Anthony, and Michelle Leszunov; great-grandchildren, Julian, Jaydon and Jayce Matucheski; and a sister, Gertrude Megna of Yonkers, New York. Memorial Service and Interment will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sts. Joseph and John Elementary School, 12580 Pearl Rd., Strongsville, OH 44136.
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb