John Katlic

1928 - 2017

Katlic, John
We celebrate the life of our patriarch, John E. "Jack" Katlic, and are saddened by his passing on December 16 at the age of 89. He was predeceased by his parents Francis John Katlic and Dorothy Gideon Deringer, a brother Richard Katlic, and a dear grandson Adam Katlic. Jack is survived by his wife and love, Nancy Nicely Katlic, with whom he had celebrated 67 years of marriage in August; as well as a brother, David Katlic; and a half-brother, Sydney Deringer. He is also survived by his five children, of whom he was immensely proud, Mark (Diane) Katlic of Glyndon, MD, Kerry (Anne) Katlic of Penfield, NY, Kevin Katlic of Lexington, KY, Kathy (Chip) Cooper of Worthington, OH and Nancy (Matt) Gilbert of Hilliard, OH; by his beloved grandchildren, Katherine Katlic, Tim Katlic, Peter (Jess) Katlic, Jeremy Katlic, Matthew Katlic, Jack Katlic, Ben (fiancée Carly) Cooper, Josh (Kate) Cooper, Taylor Cooper and Joe Gilbert; and by his cherished great-granddaughter, Bailey Cooper. Jack was a WWII veteran, an accomplished business executive, an inventor who held two patents, and an author. He was born November 3, 1928 in his grandparents' home in Washington, PA, and after graduating from Indiana (PA) High School, where he and Nancy met, he joined the U.S. Army at age 17 to serve in the occupation forces in Japan. Following his military service, he married Nancy in 1950, started working in coal mines, and began attending West Virginia University under the GI Bill. After being recalled to active military duty for the Korean War, he returned to WVU and graduated in 1955 with a degree in Mining Engineering. He began working in coal mines, and while working and raising a family with Nancy he obtained a Masters Degree in Mining Engineering. His career included positions of increasing importance with Christopher Coal Company, Eastern Associated Coal, Allied Chemical, Consolidation Coal, and Island Creek Coal. In 1984, he became Senior Vice President of American Electric Power, where he served as President of all of AEP's subsidiary coal mines and oversaw the corporation's entire Fuel Supply Division. Jack was a luminary in the coal industry, and his accomplishments included being recognized as national "Coal Man of the Year," receiving the Erksine Ramsey Medal from the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and being inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame. Jack was active in every community where he and Nancy lived, serving as an elected member of the Morgantown City Council, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. When Jack and Nancy settled in Lancaster, Ohio in 1984, they became active members of that community as well, as Jack became chair of the Fairfield Medical Center Board and the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, and a founding director of the Fairfield Foundation. His greatest delights, however, were not in his and Nancy's accomplishments but rather those of their children and grandchildren. Jack was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and after his retirement he and Nancy enjoyed traveling, visiting family and friends, and attending their grandchildren's activities. His family will deeply miss his love, guidance, intellect, jokes for every occasion, and fondness for dogs of all sizes. A family service will be held in Ligonier, Pennsylvania at the Ligonier Valley Cemetery Chapel, followed by burial at the Ligonier Valley Cemetery. The family would like to thank the employees of the Inn at Bear Trail for their constant love and support, as well as the wonderful nurses and staff with Capital City Hospice. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Jack's name to the Fairfield County Foundation, 162 East Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130, or to the Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center & Shelter, www.co.fairfield.oh.us/dog.