Daniel W. Paskie

Daniel William Paskie, 83, of 1115 Chestnut Street, Franklin, died March 10, 2011 at home following a brief illness.

Born June 19, 1927 in Logan, West Virginia, he was the son of Elena and Demeter Pasca who had emigrated from Romania in 1913. In 1939 the family relocated to Buttermilk Hill, just west of Franklin, where he attended local public schools. At the age of 17, he felt the call to serve his country, dropped out of high school, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a Signalman 3rd Class in World War II in the Pacific arena for the remainder of the war. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, he returned to Franklin and graduated from Rocky Grove High School with the class of 1947.

After graduation he went to Detroit, Michigan where he enrolled in the Michigan School of Trades. He soon found employment at the Hudson Motor Car Company as a welder in the body assembly plant. Three years later, he longed for the hills of Pennsylvania and returned to the Franklin area where he worked at Joy Manufacturing Company, the Oil Well Supply Company, and at Polk State School in the 1950?s. He started welding at the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company in 1960 and was there for 22 years until his retirement in 1982. Even though welding was his primary occupation, he was an accomplished electrician, plumber and carpenter and would often help his family, friends, and community with building or remodeling projects.

Mr. Paskie was a long time member of St. Patrick Church. He served on the St. Patrick School Board and the Parish Council, and was instrumental in the remodeling of the grade school in the early 1970?s. For many years, he actively participated as a volunteer at Venango Christian High School in Oil City. While working at CPT, he served as a steward in the International Association of Machinists Union Local 352 for 15 years. Recently, he was a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels and the American Cancer Society.

On August 30, 1952, he married the former Mary T. Prince, who preceded him in death on January 5, 2000.

Surviving are four children, Victoria Paskie and her partner Connie Kobitter of Lisle, Illinois; Jennifer Street and her husband Larry of Portland, Oregon; Daniel Paskie and his wife Tina of Hamburg, New York; and Vincent Paskie and his wife Leigh of Franklin. He is also survived by two grandsons, Christopher and Eric Paskie of Franklin; three granddaughters, Brianna, Jessica, and Alyssa Paskie of Hamburg, New York; a cousin Helen Oprita of Roseville, Michigan; and brother-in-laws, Adam Gazek of Franklin, and Ed Ryder of Camp Hill, PA.; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Paskie Dieterle; a brother, Victor; and six sisters, Aurelia Morosan, Sister Mary Emilene Paskie, Helen Smith, Elizabeth Ryder, Margaret Horvath, and Alberta Gazek. Mr. Paskie was the last surviving member of his family.

Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Friday at the Huff Chapel Inc. 312 West Park St. Franklin.

A vigil service will be conducted in the funeral home at 3:30 P.M. Friday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church in Franklin on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. by Monsignor John J. Herbein.

Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery with full Military Honors rendered by the V.E.T.S Honor Guard.