Robert S. Gavlak, 73, of Houtzdale was called to be with the Lord on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013 at his home with his loved ones at his side.
He was born July 2, 1940 in Woodward Township, a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Warholic) Gavlak.
He graduated from the former Houtzdale-Woodward-Brisbin High School in 1958. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958 – 1964.
He retired as a heavy equipment mechanic from Beckwith Machinery and now Cleveland Brothers. He was a parishioner of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield.
He was a member of the International Union of Engineers, Local 66 for more than 40 years; a member of the American Legion Freeberg Post No. 591, Houtzdale and the VFW Post No. 3450, Philipsburg. He was a former officer and member of the Morann Rod and Gun Club, Morann.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a strong loving man.
On Sept. 20, 2008, he married Pam (Reitmyer) Gavlak, who survives at home. They renewed their wedding vows on Sept. 20, 2013 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield. They shared a life together for 28 years.
He’s survived by daughters, Tina Reed and her husband, Dave of Olanta and Deborah Freeland and her husband, Todd of Clearfield; a son, Robert S. Gavlak II of Houtzdale; a step-daughter, Renee Anderson and her husband, Todd of Madera; and 10 grandchildren.
He’s survived by two sisters and two brothers, Marie Murawski and her husband, Charles, Joseph Gavlak and his wife, Jeanette and Ronald Gavlak, all of Houtzdale and Joanna Lazeration of Linden, NJ; two sisters-in-law, Joyce and Judy Gavlak; his mother-in-law, Rose Reitmyer; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Albert Gavlak; an infant sister; a brother-in-law, Paul Lazeration and his father-in-law, James Reitmyer.
Friends will be received from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Friday at the Kruise Funeral Home Inc., Madera. A military memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home by the American Legion Freeberg Post No. 591.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, with Msgr. H. Desmond McGee Jr. as celebrant.
Memorial donations may be made to Clearfield Hospital Hospice.
Condolences may be sent to: condolences@kruisefuneralhome.com.