JOSEPH EDWARD FIESCHKO Sr.

FIESCHKO
JOSEPH EDWARD, Sr.
Age 98, of Lebanon, PA passed away December 26, 2017. He was born in Menominee, MI on December 16, 1919 of the late William and Julia (Adesko) Fieschko, the seventh of eight children. The family moved to West Racine, Wisconsin, primarily a Danish neighborhood at the time, and though Polish was spoken in the household, the children soon learned English after entering school. Most of his career was spent in federal service as general counsel for the Atomic Energy Commission, first in Chicago, then Pittsburgh from 1958 to 1981. He spent most of his career negotiating procurement contracts on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Most of his contract work concerned the building and refurbishing of nuclear power plants. He contributed significantly to the legal framework supporting the safe use of nuclear power in seagoing vessels. Two of his notable projects included the Nautilus, the first nuclear- powered submarine, and the Enterprise, the first nuclear- powered aircraft carrier. Following his retirement from the government, he served as general counsel for Parsons Brinckerhoff, composing and negotiating the procurement contracts involved in the construction of the Pittsburgh light rail transit system. Before finally retiring, he helped his son, Joseph E. Fieschko, Jr., establish his law firm. Quiet and studious, he was always the smartest guy in the room. Upon graduation from high school he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he worked full-time to put himself through school. In 1943 he was drafted into World War II and admitted to Officer Candidate School. He served in the Eleventh Armored Division as a First Lieutenant aand tank commander seeing combat in several campaigns and receiving bronze stars for the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes), Rhineland and Central Europe. He also participated in the liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp. He was honorably discharged from active service in 1946.After the war he returned to the University of Wisconsin, School of Law and was accepted into the Order of Coif. He was grateful for the GI Bill which covered the entire tuition so he could devote all his time to study, and met his future wife along the way. Upon receiving his degree, he worked in private law practice in Wisconsin and served as a reserve army officer attached to the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) until 1953. He married Antoinette Jane Zander in December of 1950, a schoolteacher. They shared a love of classical music, as he played viola and violin in the Racine Symphony, and she taught and played piano. They started their family in the Midwest then relocated to the South Hills of Pittsburgh. They attended the Pittsburgh Symphony frequently and there were two baby grand pianos in the living room, facing each other, upon which Toni and their daughter Julie played duets. Dedicated to family, they were devoted to raising and educating their five children, Julie, Joseph Jr., John, Heidi, and Gretchen. All five children obtained advanced degrees, pursuing successful careers in medicine, law, engineering, digital strategy, and business. Though becoming frail of body, he remained sound of mind and a perfect gentleman to the end. At his grandson Ted Keller's wedding, earlier this year, he delivered a thoughtful and heartfelt speech welcoming Teddy's new wife, Sormeh, to the family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Antoinette; and his siblings, Frank, John, Ted, Walter, Sophia, Bertha, and Mary. He is survived by his five children, Julie (husband James Keller) of Lebanon PA, Joseph (wife Regina) of Pittsburgh, PA, John (wife Theresa) of Manlius, NY, Heidi of Chicago, Illinois, and Gretchen (husband Lawrence van Cantfort) of San Rafael, CA; and grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ted (Edward), Zander, Christopher, and Andrew. His wisdom and memory will be cherished, and he will be dearly missed by all. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 6th and Chestnut Sts., Lebanon, PA, with a viewing beginning on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Interment with military honors, will be made in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lebanon VA Hospice Unit, 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon, PA 17042 or Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails, P.O. Box 2043, Cleona, PA 17042. ROHLAND FUNERAL HOME, INC., of Lebanon, PA is handling his arrangements.
www.rohlandfh.com