Andrew L. Fenchak of Dublin, OH and a native of Madera went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 after a brief illness.
Mr. Fenchak was the son of the late Michael and Maria (Kyptchyk) Basarab Fenchak, who emigrated from the Ukraine in 1908. He was an altar server at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church of Ramey and a 1944 graduate of Madera High School.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army with the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was awarded the Medal of Good Conduct, Marksmanship Medal and attained rank of Tech IV Sergeant by specializing in Communications wiring.
He was a charter and life member of VFW Post #8822 in Madera and active in management of the post in the late 1940’s and 1980’s as well as a life member of the American Legion Post #591 in Houtzdale.
He attended Pennsylvania State University, University of Akron, OH and the University of Michigan. He was a Member of Delta Psi Omega National Dramatic Fraternity. He also graduated from Blackstone School of Law in 1993 as a legal assistant/paralegal.
He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus with more than 50 years of service. He served as Lecturer, Chancellor, Recorder and Director of Council activities. He edited and distributed a quarterly K of C Bulletin for more than 30 years. His last K of C Council was our Lady of Fatima in Huntingdon and was a Fourth Degree Sir Knight of Clearfield Assembly. He was a member of The Catholic League and Pope John Paul II society.
He was an activist in support of Catholic education in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He served as president and architectural chairman of the Genesee County Catholic Board of Education and built a new 2,200 student Catholic Education Campus in Flint, MI in 1970.
He was employed by Graybar Co. Inc., as an executive from 1950 until retiring in 1986 from the St. Louis Corporate Headquarters as National Marketing Manager of Electrical Products. After retirement, he taught “Logistics and Wholesale Distribution” at various business schools. He served as chairman of the Illuminating Engineering Society of
Northeastern Michigan and was president of the Genesee County Electrical Association of Flint, MI.
He belonged to the Nation Notaries Association, National Manuscript Club, Loyal Order of the Moose (Madera), BPOE (Philipsburg), Clearfield County Historical Association, Clearfield County Sports Hall of Fame and the Heritage Foundation. He was a member of the Moshannon Valley Rotary Club, past president and a Paul Harris Fellowship Member.
He married Lois (Vrabel) Thomas on Sept. 10, 1949 at the Church of the Annunciation in Akron, OH. She died Dec. 1, 1996 in Madera after 47 years of marriage.
He’s survived by his children, Susan (Dennis) Bassett of Cincinnati, OH, Barbara (Robert) Donald of Louisville, KY, John (Melissa) Fenchak of Marysville, OH and Mary Pelenis of Downers Grove, IL. He also leaves eight grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.
Mr. Fenchak married Loretta Ferlitch Spingola on June 10, 1999 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huntingdon. She died Sept. 5, 2006.
Surviving step-children are Frank (Lindy) Spingola of Marietta, GA and Cate Croyle and Mark Spingola, both of Huntingdon. He also leaves five step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He’s preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and three sisters.
Surviving siblings are Ann Kohan of Ramey, Susan Warholic of Beccaria, Kathryn Lumanick of Port Orange, FL and Paul Fenchak of Lutherville, MD.
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Friday at the Kruise Funeral Home Inc. in Madera and from 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Saturday followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Church in Houtzdale with Fr. Stanley J. Swacha as celebrant.
Our Lady of the Valley Knights of Columbus will held a memorial service at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.
Burial services with military honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post # 592 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Madera.
Condolences may be sent to: condolences@kruisefuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food for Families program through St. Vincent DePaul Altoona/Johnstown Diocese at svdpcares.org.