Eugene W. Sulek

1929 - 11

Eugene W. "Gene" Sulek, 80, of Latrobe, peacefully entered eternal life on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in Excela Health Jeannette Hospice Center. Born Nov. 2, 1929, in Darragh, he was one of four children of the late John A. and Catherine A. (Kukol) Sulek. Gene was a member of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, Whitney. He was a proud veteran, having served in the Marine Corps. He fought for the country he loved in the Korean War, and was wounded by enemy artillery fire while engaging the enemy in central Korea in May 1951. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the United Nations Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation. Gene received his BA degree from Duquesne University. He studied for one year at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, then entered the Graduate School of Business, also at the University of Pittsburgh. He continued his studies at Cornell University, where he studied in the Senior Management Accelerated program. The majority of his work career was with Thorofare Markets. He then helped manage the Reading division of Wetterau Inc. and the Belle Vernon division of Super Value Inc. After retirement in 1994, he spent 10 years as a volunteer counselor at SCORE, where he counseled small businesses and assisted those wishing to start a business. Gene loved aviation, and held a private pilot's license. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Edward; a sister, Elaine; a stepbrother, Andrew; and a stepsister, Mary. Gene leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 48 years, Gai-Lynne R. (Forbes) Sulek, whom he married on June 24, 1961; his daughter, Mari-Lin Balash and husband, Jim, of Lake Cormorant, Miss.; three sons, E. Jeffrey Sulek and Kimberly, of Boise, Idaho, Alan Sulek and wife, Sharon, of Mooresville, N.C., and Christopher Sulek and wife, Melissa, of Hagerstown, Md.; a sister, Eleanor Burrows and husband, Jim, of Belle Vernon; and eight grandchildren, Derek, Zachary, Kaitlin, Lauren, Megan, Matthew, Libby and Ashlyn. Also survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the JOHN J. LOPATICH FUNERAL HOME INC., 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. Military services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with American Legion Post 515 and VFW Post 3414. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Cecilia Church with the Rev. Peter Augustine Pierjok, OSB, as celebrant. Interment in St. Vincent Cemetery, Latrobe. Memorial contributions may be made to: The American Heart Association, Westmoreland Division, 4727 Route 30, Suite 204, Berkshire Center, Building 1, Greensburg, PA 15601, or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, 888-773-9958. To sign online guest book, send condolences, or to view detailed obituary information, please visit www.lopatich.com.