John W. "Butch" Suchanick

MILLERSBURG - John W. "Butch" Suchanick, 74, of Millersburg, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, at home.

John was born in Shamokin, July 11, 1947, a son of the late Walter and Marion Suchanick.

John married Elaine Suchanick, of Houston, Texas, April 24, 1987, in Millersburg.

John enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1966, and served four years of active duty, and then transferred into the U.S. Naval Reserves for a total of 23 years. He served tours on the USS Wright, the USS Furse, the USS Cadmas and the USS Barry, which included a West Pac tour, a Vietnam tour, served on an escort mission for President Johnson, and made stops in Hawaii, Brazil, the Bahamas, Japan, Bermuda, Norway, Belgium, China, Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, Mexico, Alaska.

His military service included awards of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Through his military deployments he crossed nautical timelines - the equator, the Antarctic Circle and the 180th meridian. His last wish was to cross the final nautical timeline, the Mediterranean, where his ashes will be dropped for burial at sea.

John was a painter by trade under the IUPAT. He was a Moose lifetime member, Millersburg FC No. 59, a member of the American Legion Penbrook Post 730 and a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, in Millersburg.

John was a devoted husband, father, brother and son. Good neighbors on the block considered him to be the "Mayor of Church Street." His dynamic personality was exhibited to everyone he met, making you feel special while enjoying his comical approach to life. He made everyone laugh and always made the best of a bad situation. Even though his last few months were a struggle, he never lost his keen sense of humor, making jokes until the end. He was well loved and will be sorely missed.

John is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Millersburg; a brother, Michael and his wife, Susan, of Harrisburg; a former wife, Nancy Suchanick and children, Stephen (Laura), of Shamokin, and Jona (Daniel) Diehl and Kelly (Brad) Haupt, all of Paxinos; a son, Brian, of Harrisburg; a daughter, Amanda (Matt) Yohn, of Mifflintown; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; two nephews; and numerous cousins spread across Pennsylvania and Texas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Garry Brooks; and an aunt, Jayne DeLong.

SUCHANICK - John W. "Butch" Suchanick, 74, of Millersburg. There will be a memorial service for John at 11 a.m. Monday at Hoover-Boyer Funeral Home, in Millersburg, with Pastor Godfred Effisiah officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday. Following the memorial service, there will be a celebration of life and Moose ceremony at Moose Lodge FC No. 59 at 345 Market St., Millersburg, open to all. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in John's honor to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. Hoover-Boyer Funeral Home Ltd., Millersburg, a Minnich Funeral location, is handling the arrangements. To sign the guestbook go to www.minnichfuneral.com.