Franko

Mike "Spider" Franko, 92, of the Saxony Health Center, Saxonburg, formerly of Mercer Street, died at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the health center.

Born May 18, 1917, in Lyndora, he was the son of the late Harry Franko and the late Julia (Druga) Franko.

Mr. Franko was a heavy equipment operator for Armco, retiring in 1979.

He was a lifetime member of the St. John Byzantine Catholic Church in Lyndora.

Mr. Franko was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion Post 778 of Lyndora and the VFW Post 249.

Mr. Franko was a former member of the Moose Lodge 64 of Butler, the Butler Elks Lodge 170 and the Slovak Circle Society Club.

He was active in a variety of sports and played with many local sports teams for most of his life. He especially enjoyed golf.

He was a member of the Century Club of Tanglewood and an alumni of the Butler High School Class of 1937.

Mr. Franko is survived by one son, Michael A. Franko, and his wife, Kathleen, of Butler; one daughter, Marilyn Graham and her husband, Terry, of Butler; one granddaughter, Teresa (Graham) Shannon and her husband, Erik; one grandson, David Graham; two stepgrandsons, Brandon and his wife, Naoko Downing, and Joshua and his wife, Stacy Downing; three step-great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Charlie and Ryuta Downing; two brothers, Harry Franko and his wife, Virginia, and Frank Franko and his wife, Glenna, both of Butler; his special friend, Mary Ellen Yon of Butler; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Franko was preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. (Severino) Franko, who passed away June 3, 1989; three brothers, John Franko, Steven Franko and Andrew Franko, and by one sister, Mary (Franko) Anderson.

<B>FRANKO</B> — Friends of Mike "Spider" Franko, who died Monday, June 29, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St. A private funeral liturgy, in his memory, will be held at a later date. Private interment will be at Greenlawn Burial Estates.Officers and members of the American Legion Post 778 of Lyndora and the VFW Post 249 will conduct memorial services at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Butler County Unit, P.O. Box 3014, Butler, PA 16003; the Hospice Program of Visiting Nurses, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001; or to a charity of the donor's choice.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.