Attorney John D. Sieminski

1945 - 2021

Attorney John D. Sieminski, 76, passed away Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, at his home in Forty Fort in the company of his beloved wife.

He was born at Fort Benning in Chattahoochee County, Ga., June 30, 1945, and grew up in Swoyersville. He graduated from Wyoming Seminary, Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center. He earned his Master of Taxation at New York University.

After receiving his J.D., he was employed by Arthur Andersen, one of the "Big Five" accounting firms in their New York office before moving back to the Wyoming Valley to start his own law practice. John practiced law with integrity and ethics for over 40 years before his retirement. For over 30 years, he served as the IV-D Coordinator for the Luzerne County Domestic Relations Court of Common Pleas and was instrumental in implementing the program in 1979. He also served as legal counsel for the Polish Union of America for many years and volunteered his time interviewing prospective students for Georgetown University. He was an active member of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association and served on the Board of Advisors of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Casimir and Hedwig Sieminski; his sister, Mia Sieminski; and brother-in-law, William Devens.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Donna Devens Sieminski; his son, David and wife, Jennifer, and two grandsons, Elias and Benjamin; daughter, Laura and husband, Donald Smith, and two grandsons, Hollis and Jack; daughter, Kathryn and husband, James Powderly; as well as in-laws, Bruce Summers and Joan Devens; and nieces, Carol Summers; and Kristi Devens LaVorgna.

John was an adoring husband, devoted father and doting grandfather. He enjoyed life with grace, humor, a sense of adventure and never-ending optimism. He rarely missed an engagement of his three children, spending hours at swim meets, soccer games and ballet recitals. John suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years, never letting the disease define him; he met each day with a workout at the YMCA. John was an avid reader of religion and history books, The New York Times and a proud supporter of public radio. He enjoyed a good bourbon and a good joke. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends. He always did enjoy a good obituary, and we hope we have honored him well with this one.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Friends and family may call two hours before the service. Masks are required.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, Forty Fort.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Wilkes-Barre YMCA, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or the charity of one's choice. His family wishes to give thanks to Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their compassionate care.

For information or to send the family a condolence, please visit the funeral home website at www.hughbhughes.com.