Mackalica

John David Mackalica Sr., 62, of Murrinsville died suddenly Monday while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico.

Born Feb. 27, 1946, in Cabot, he was a son of the late Frank J. and Mary L. Fisher Mackalica.

John worked at Pullman-Standard until the company closed. He then started his own construction company, which led to his job with AIRCO, which then became BOC Gases and recently the Linde Group, where he was a cryogenic engineering technician. He was instrumental in creating the International Training Center for AIRCO in Butler and had recently received a Bronze Wrench Award from Linde for 10 safe consecutive years on the job.

He was a member of the Chicora Moose, the East Butler Club, and the VFW in Cherry Valley. He had belonged to a bowling league for many years and was an avid outdoor sportsman, gardener and beekeeper.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and mostly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He was a longtime member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Butler and had been the caretaker of the St. Peter Parish Cemetery in Butler for 23 years.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, he had served with the U.S. Navy, where he had been an undefeated boxing champion on the USS Saratoga and was certified to be a first mate on fishing vessels.

Surviving are his wife, Jacqueline A. (Fitzpatrick) Mackalica, whom he married July 17, 1964; three daughters, Jodi Lynn (Wayne) Kerry of Port Charlotte, Fla., Lisa Marie (David) John of Butler and Kelly Ann (Brian) Ray of Chicago, Ill.; a son, John David (Megan) Mackalica of Boyers; four grandsons, Brent and Chad Spahn of Boyers and Wayne and Tyler Kerry of Port Charlotte, Fla.; four granddaughters, Hannah John, Maura Ray, Miranda Ray and Arella Mackalica; a great-granddaughter, Alannah Kerry; four brothers, James, Joseph, and Charles Mackalica of Butler and Paul Mackalica of Valencia; a sister, Mary Beth Mackalica of Butler; his loving mother-in-law, Ann Zanella of Butler; and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Francis; and his father-in-law, Bernard Fitzpatrick.

<B>Mackalica </B>—<B> </B>Friends of John David Mackalica Sr., who died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St. Interment will follow in St. Peter Parish Cemetery.The St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:40 a.m. Monday at the church to recite the rosary.Memorial donations may be made to the Catholic World Mission, 33 Rossotto Drive, Hamden, CT 06514, for the benefit of the Immaculate Conception Church, Rev. Pierre Gouraud, Pastor, Cancun, Mexico.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.