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Obituaries

Michael A. Zarutskie
Died: Jun 4, 2014
Michael A. Zarutskie
Michael Andrew Zarutskie, of Laguna Niguel, CA passed away peacefully Wednesday June 4, 2014 at Mission Hospital, Laguna Hills, CA.
 
Michael was, born April 25, 1925 to Stephen and Anna Bronko Zarutskie of Gilberton. 
 
As a young man he attended Gilberton High School, where playing on the basketball team was known as “The Rooster” for his red hair. He graduated as Class Validictorian, won a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but, chose to enlist into the Army Air Corps on June 22, 1943. He was chosen among a select group of cadets to complete the first Aviation Cadet Program. He served as a WWII Flight Engineer on a B29, Flying Fortress. He received his Honorable Discharge on November 5, 1945.
 
Upon his discharge he married Nita Tatusko, of Frackville, on July 28, 1946. He was hired by then the Atlantic Refining Company, now British Petroleum, where he continued to work until his retirement in 1985.
 
Over his 41 years of service he held a variety of positions, retiring as a Senior Instrument Engineer. His mechanical knowledge, his curiosity as to how and why things work and his high level of energy drove him to build the family home in Newtown Square.
 
In 1992 Nita and he moved to Laguna Niguel, CA.
 
He was preceded in death by his 6 year old son Michael, in 1953.
 
He is survived by Nita, his dedicated wife of 68 years; his son Paul of Seattle Washington and daughter Donna Lehrer, of Big Rock, Illinois. He is the proud grandfather of Eric and Natasha Lehrer and Katarina and Alexander Zarutskie.
 
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Frackville with Rev. James Jadick, pastor, as celebrant. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation from 5- 8 p.m. Thursday evening with Parastas at 7:30 p.m. at the Albert L. Gricoski Funeral Home, Frackville, and again from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.Friday morning.   Interment with Military Honors will be in Holy Ascension Cemetery, Englewood/Frackville
Comments:
Steve and Denise Cherewaty
#1
June 12th, 2014 10:53 pm
You are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
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