Joseph Kraynak

JOSEPH KRAYNAK Joseph Kraynak, 91, of Lansdale died October 28, 2012 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He had been in failing health. Born in Hazelbrook, he was the son of the late George and Anna Mindalla Kraynak. Joe has lived in Lansdale since 1959 and was formerly from Roslyn. He was a World War II veteran having served with the 4th Infantry Division in the US Army in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge as well as other campaigns including Ardennes, Central Europe, Northern France and the Rhineland. Mr. Kraynak was a member of Saint Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lansdale He was a well-known local artist with a strength in portraits, landscapes, and specialty painting restoration. Mr. Kraynak in the 1950's worked in Philadelphia as a commercial airbrush artist and skilled illustrator. In 1963 Mr. Kraynak became a co-founder along with Carson Yost of North Penn Art, a local business establishment in Lansdale which still serves the area today. He was a member of the Lansdale VFW, Lansdale American Legion and the Kraynak Basketball Association, an informal group of family and friends who loved to play basketball. Surviving is his beloved wife of 66 years, Stella F. Zarzeka Kraynak, and his devoted children, sons, Joseph C. Kraynak, MD and his wife, Constance, of Hatfield, Paul R. Kraynak and his wife, Michele, of Lansdale, John P. Kraynak and his wife, Karen, of Myersville, MD, and Peter T. Kraynak and his wife, Anna, of Lansdale and daughters, Carol K. Albrecht and her husband, James, MD of Lansdale, Elizabeth M. Kotulka of Lansdale, Bonita K. Handerhan and her husband, John, of Lansdale and Rosemary Folkes and her husband, Daniel, of Lansdale. All of Joe's children attended Lansdale Catholic High School and went on to live in Lansdale with their children. Also surviving are 36 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Paul Kraynak of Lansdale and Bill Kraynak of Hatfield; and sisters, Katie Kociolek of Bethlehem, Betty Burch of Allentown and Margaret Valentino of Bethlehem. He was preceded in death by brothers, George and Stefan Kraynak and sisters, Anna Wilde, Helen Billie, Julia Beck, Dorothy Williams and Mary Gamberdella. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass Saturday, Nov. 3 at 11AM at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale, PA. 19446 where the family will receive friends Saturday from 9 to 10:45AM. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. For those desiring, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe's memory to the Hospice of the North Penn Visiting Nurses Assn or St. Stanislaus Church both in Lansdale, PA would be preferred. Arrangements are with the Simcox-McIlvaine Funeral Home, Lansdale.