Melvin Graboske

Melvin "Mel" Graboske, of Nanticoke, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. He died in the same home where he was born 82 years ago, the homestead built by his grandfather, George Graboske Sr.

Mel was the firstborn to George Graboske Jr. and Rose Yavor Graboske Eget, and he quickly had a band of younger brothers and sisters who played ball, hunted, and roamed the hills of Honey Pot together.

He loved working on cars, especially the '36 Ford #6 racecar that his father drove at the regional dirt tracks.

After attending Nanticoke High School, he met Janice May, the woman he married and shared the wonderful adventure called life. They soon welcomed their sons, David and Michael, even as they were working to build their own business. Soon, Graboske Trucking was a success, and Mel continued to drive late into his 70s, enjoying the road and the people he'd meet along the way.

Aside from his family, Mel's great love was baseball. He learned to play as a boy, and later when his sons were old enough, he became a coach. As the leader of the Kiwanis squad, Coach Mel added many awards to the trophy case and led the Nanticoke Little League All-Star Teams to numerous district championships.

Mel was preceded in death by his wife, Jan; his son, Michael; his grandparents, George and Helen Graboske and Mary and Thomas Yavor; as well as his parents and stepfather, Edward Eget Sr.

He sadly buried all of his younger brothers, George III, Richard, Robert, Charles and David; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Graboske; and brothers-in-law, Bob Maculloch and Mark Spencer.

Left with many memories are his son, David, of Nanticoke; his grandsons, Michael and Steven Graboske, of Hanover Township; his companion, Patty Zatorshi of Nanticoke; sisters, Carol Maculloch, of Hunlock Creek; Linda Atherton and her husband, Jim, of West Nanticoke; Karen Spencer, of West Nanticoke; and Dr. Donna Eget and her wife, Carolyn Beers, of Clarks Summit; sisters-in-law, Gloria Graboske and Annette Graboske; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mel's life will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, with a funeral service at 11 a.m., at Dinelli Family Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad St., Nanticoke, with the Rev. Barry Lohman officiating.

Viewing and visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service Saturday.

Interment will follow in Edgehill Cemetery, Nanticoke.

To leave the family a condolence or expression of sympathy, visit www.dinellifuneralhome.com.