Bratkovich

John M. Bratkovich, 88, of Fairview Township died Tuesday at his home.

Born Dec. 15, 1919, in Kaylor, he was the son of Joseph and Theresa Lozar Bratkovich.

In his younger days, he was an exceptional baseball player.

He enjoyed watching sports on television, and spending time with family and friends was very important to him.

Mr. Bratkovich was a staff sergeant in the Army's 37th Mess Squadron during World War II. He received the American Theater Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a Victory Medal.

He was a retort operator at Penn Drake in Karns City for 38 years.

He belonged to the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Bradys Bend. He also was a member of the American Legion Post 488 of Bradys Bend and the SNPJ Lodge 244 of Imperial.

Surviving are his wife, Betty L. Greenawalt Bratkovich, whom he married Jan. 24, 1998; a son, Joseph J. Bratkovich and his wife, Maureen, of Butler; a brother, Henry A. Bratkovich of Kaylor; a sister, Rose Schumacher of East Brady; two grandchildren, Colleen Gianneski and her husband, Ronald, of Butler and Joseph D. Bratkovich of Butler; and two great-grandchildren, Erin and Max Gianneski, both of Butler.

His first wife, Alma D. Dellana, whom he married May 24, 1947, died April 5, 1991. Three brothers and four sisters also preceded him in death.

<B>BRATKOVICH </B>— Friends of John M. Bratkovich, who died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Charles B. Buechele Funeral Home</B>, 105 Fourth St., East Brady. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Bonafed officiating. Private entombment will be at the Butler County Memorial Park.A parish prayer service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.American Legion Post 488 will hold a memorial service at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and provide military honors Saturday at the church.Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division, Memorials and Honors Gifts, P.O. Box 897, Hershey, PA 17033.