Walter J. Stanoski

1934 - 2023

Walter J. "John" Stanoski, 89, of Natrona Heights, passed away peacefully with his family at his side Sunday, July 2, 2023. He was born Jan. 7, 1934, in Natrona, a son of the late Joseph and Eva (Dombroski) Stanoski. John attended St. Ladislaus Grade School and was a 1951 graduate of Har-Brack High School and attended the University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris Junior College and the American Institute of Banking. John was a United States Navy Korean War veteran, serving as a quartermaster signalman aboard the USS LSMR 515 and the USS Laning DE 159/APD55. John was a retired banker working for the following banks during his career: manager for Pittsburgh National Bank at their Natrona and Natrona Heights offices; bank advisor to junior achievement of Allegheny Valley; manager for Keystone Bank at their Natrona Heights and Route 8 offices; Allegheny Valley Bank where he was the vice president, cashier, secretary and secretary to the Banks' Board of Directors; and manager of Banks Blawnox and St. Francis Hospital branch offices. Prior to his banking career, John worked in the office of Union Spring and Manufacturing Company in New Kensington. He was a former Democratic Party Committeeman and served 30 years as a member of the Highlands School Board, where he was vice president in 1973 and 1983, and was president in 1975, 1998 and 2006. John was also the past director of the Allegheny Valley Chamber of Commerce, Bankers Exchange of Pittsburgh and was the vice president in 2002 and president in 2002, 2004 and 2004 for the Forbes Road Career and Technical School. John was a previous church committeeman and usher at St. Ladislaus Church in Natrona, member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Holy Name Societies and a member and previous usher of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Natrona Heights. He was a Third Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 2602 in Natrona, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Alle-Kiski No. 0928, Knights of Columbus, Color Corps, Fourth Degree Alle-Kiski No. 0928, member of American Legion Post 48, in Natrona, Polish National Alliance Group 599 in Natrona, Plankowner, U.S. Navy Memorial, Washington, D.C., Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, USS LSM-LSMR Association, American Bankers Association, Group 8, Pa. Bankers Association, Pittsburgh, VFW Post 894 in Natrona Heights and a past member, Industrial Management Club of Allegheny Valley. John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen (Klimczyk) Stanoski, children, Michael (Phyllis) Stanoski, of Natrona Heights, and Juliane (Larry) Melnick, of Natrona Heights; grandchildren, Joseph (Ashley) Melnick, Ryan Melnick, Lyndsay (Adam) Lattus and Kaitlyn (Michael) Zukowski; great-grandchildren, Luke Lattus, Logan Lattus and Christian Zukowski; and by several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his four brothers, Alvin, Edmund, Leonard and Francis Stanoski; and by his four sisters, Valeria Bieranoski, Josephine Ziencik, Virginia Sakala and Elizabeth Stanoski in infancy. Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the CICHOLSKI-ZIDEK FUNERAL HOME INC., 1522 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights, 724-224-8688, where a parting prayer service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon in Most Blessed Sacrament Campus with his pastor the Rev. John B. Lendvai as celebrant. Burial with full military honors accorded by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard will be in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township. The Knights of Columbus will hold services at 5:45 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. To send online condolences, please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com.