John W. Rosettsky Jr.

Retired US Navy â€" Vietnam Vet John W. Rosettsky, Jr., age 73, of Girard, died Friday, March 15, 2013, at UPMC Hamot after an extended illness. Born in Erie on August 12, 1939, he was a son of the late John W. and Rita Albertson Rosettsky, Sr. John attended East High School and then joined the U.S. Navy. He served during the Suez Canal issue, Bay of Pigs and on river patrol boats on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. John retired as a Master Chief Gunnery/Guns. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, Council 5430. John was the foundry maintenance foreman at Erie Malleable Iron, Urick Foundry and Cooper-Bessmer in Grove City. He was a member of the Albion Sportsmen's Club, Commodore Perry Barbershop Chorus, Lake Erie Masonic Lodge 347 F & AM, Girard American Legion Post 494, the VFW, volunteered with the Boy Scouts during the 1970's, and was a retired Pennsylvania State Constable. John was a hard worker and enjoyed trap shooting and hunting with his family. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sister Karen Hansen Jors. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Martha Ann Artello Rosettsky; three daughters: Mary Schloss and her husband Keith, Martha Dale and her husband Jon, and Catherine Rosettsky; a son, John W. Rosettsky, III; a brother, Edward Rosettsky and his wife Mary of Poulsbo, Wash.; 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff at UPMC Hamot, Select Specialty Hospital and Fairview Manor for the wonderful care given to John. Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main Street East in Girard on Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 101 Olin Avenue, Girard, with Rev. William Miller, Celebrant. Memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 130 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16501, or to St. John Parish Center Building Fund, 101 Olin Avenue, Girard, PA 16417. Flowers and condolences may be sent at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.