1923
Gabe
2013
Gabe Maskarinec
September 25, 1923 — September 24, 2013
Gabriel "Gabe" Maskarinec of Idaho Falls died peacefully, at home, of old age, one day short of his 90th birthday, on September 24, 2013.
Gabe was born to Michael and Mary (Yablonsky) Maskarinec, immigrants from the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, in Sutersville, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1923. Baptized at Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Braddock, PA, Gabe learned his "Otche Nash" (the Lord's Prayer in Old Church Slavonic) , at the end of a ruler at the church school. High school graduation was followed by six weeks working in the Signal Corps in Philadelphia, which led him to join the US Navy Air Force (1943-1947) as a radioman/gunner, stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and attending Officers' Training in Naval Sciences at Harvard University. He received bachelor's degrees in metallurgical engineering and business administration after 12 years of night school at the University of Pittsburgh. During this time he worked for Westinghouse, later working at Westinghouse Nuclear at the NRTS, transferring to Idaho Falls in 1966.
He married Barbara Ann Lorinc of Pitcairn, PA, in 1949, whose heart he won by presenting her with a white orchid on Easter, when his income came the hard way, shoveling coal into blast furnaces in the Pittsburgh steel mills. Gabe and Barbara celebrated their 64th anniversary last month.
Besides logging thousands of miles driving four children to art, music, and sports lessons and activities, Gabe put his heart and mind to many interests: playing softball and bowling; serving as a borough councilman; serving as a lector, usher, and Eucharistic minister in the Catholic Church, Bonneville Country Jail, and Behavioral Health Center; helping organize the Idaho Falls Food Bank; promoting literacy through VISTA; and building community understanding of mental health by expanding NAMI in Idaho. He inherited his love of horse racing from his mother. A man of great empathy, loyalty, and love of God, Gabe was also blessed with a happy and easy-going disposition. Anyone who met him would describe him as a "really good guy."
Gabe is survived by his wife, Barbara; son Gregory (Gertraud Sommer) of Honolulu, HI (children Malika and Maya); daughter Karen Maskarinec (Richard Crabtree) of Chugiak, AK (children Gwenyth and Steven); son Gary (Bernadette Jilka) of Tucson, AZ (children Luke Gabriel, Cerelia, and Genevieve); son Gerald of Idaho Falls; 4 great-grandchildren; and his sister Genevieve Blasko, of East Pittsburgh, PA. He was preceded in death by his sisters Mame, Shorty, Martha, and Millie; and two brothers, Michael and Raphael, completing the trio of archangels, now celebrating their reunion in their heavenly home.
The Mass of Christian Burial will held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 30, 2013, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1690 E 17th Street, with Fathers Raul Covarrubias and Gerald Funke, co-celebrants. A Rosary will be held on Sunday, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with a viewing from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home , 825 E 17th Street in Idaho Falls. followed by interment at Ammon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be to your favorite charity, or by placing a bet on a trifecta in Gabe's memory.
When: Sunday, September 29th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
When: Sunday, September 29th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
When: Monday, September 30th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
Gabe was born to Michael and Mary (Yablonsky) Maskarinec, immigrants from the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, in Sutersville, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1923. Baptized at Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Braddock, PA, Gabe learned his "Otche Nash" (the Lord's Prayer in Old Church Slavonic) , at the end of a ruler at the church school. High school graduation was followed by six weeks working in the Signal Corps in Philadelphia, which led him to join the US Navy Air Force (1943-1947) as a radioman/gunner, stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and attending Officers' Training in Naval Sciences at Harvard University. He received bachelor's degrees in metallurgical engineering and business administration after 12 years of night school at the University of Pittsburgh. During this time he worked for Westinghouse, later working at Westinghouse Nuclear at the NRTS, transferring to Idaho Falls in 1966.
He married Barbara Ann Lorinc of Pitcairn, PA, in 1949, whose heart he won by presenting her with a white orchid on Easter, when his income came the hard way, shoveling coal into blast furnaces in the Pittsburgh steel mills. Gabe and Barbara celebrated their 64th anniversary last month.
Besides logging thousands of miles driving four children to art, music, and sports lessons and activities, Gabe put his heart and mind to many interests: playing softball and bowling; serving as a borough councilman; serving as a lector, usher, and Eucharistic minister in the Catholic Church, Bonneville Country Jail, and Behavioral Health Center; helping organize the Idaho Falls Food Bank; promoting literacy through VISTA; and building community understanding of mental health by expanding NAMI in Idaho. He inherited his love of horse racing from his mother. A man of great empathy, loyalty, and love of God, Gabe was also blessed with a happy and easy-going disposition. Anyone who met him would describe him as a "really good guy."
Gabe is survived by his wife, Barbara; son Gregory (Gertraud Sommer) of Honolulu, HI (children Malika and Maya); daughter Karen Maskarinec (Richard Crabtree) of Chugiak, AK (children Gwenyth and Steven); son Gary (Bernadette Jilka) of Tucson, AZ (children Luke Gabriel, Cerelia, and Genevieve); son Gerald of Idaho Falls; 4 great-grandchildren; and his sister Genevieve Blasko, of East Pittsburgh, PA. He was preceded in death by his sisters Mame, Shorty, Martha, and Millie; and two brothers, Michael and Raphael, completing the trio of archangels, now celebrating their reunion in their heavenly home.
The Mass of Christian Burial will held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 30, 2013, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1690 E 17th Street, with Fathers Raul Covarrubias and Gerald Funke, co-celebrants. A Rosary will be held on Sunday, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with a viewing from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home , 825 E 17th Street in Idaho Falls. followed by interment at Ammon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be to your favorite charity, or by placing a bet on a trifecta in Gabe's memory.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: Sunday, September 29th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
Second Visitation
When: Sunday, September 29th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
Service
When: Monday, September 30th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
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