Eiler

John J. "Jack" Eiler, 87, of North Washington passed away at 9 p.m. Monday at his home following an illness.

Born in Pittsburgh, Feb. 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Joseph C. and Hilda Styer Eiler.

While serving in Normandy and Northern France, he met and married the former Gisele Cedard. They were married in both the courthouse and a Catholic church in Boulogne, France. She survives.

A veteran of the Army, he was honorably discharged from World War II with the rank of technical sergeant. He earned the Good Conduct, Victory and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operation medals, including two Bronze Stars.

Jack was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Parker, Armstrong County, and the 26th District of which he had served as commander. At Parker, he was a life member, a past four-term commander and the manager for more than 16 years of Post 7073. He also was a member of the American Legion Post 636 at Foxburg.

He retired with more than 30 years with the former Koppers Chemical Co., now Indspec, at Petrolia. At Koppers, he was an electrician by job assignment. In addition, he was a self-employed contractor, along with family and friends, contracting to raze residential, commercial and educational facilities in the tri-county area.

Jack loved to organize dances at the VFW, and he enjoyed the company of his Gisele on the dance floor for many decades. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and a favorite hobby was gambling, especially poker.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters, JoAnne (Don) Shay of Palm Springs, Fla., Dixie Vensel of Bremerton, Wash., Chris Eiler of Butler and Laurie (Tim) Thompson of Eau Claire; three sons, Danny (Joyce) Eiler of St. Leonard, Md., Mike (Linda) Eiler of Petrolia and Jeff (Sherry) Eiler of Panama City, Fla.; 23 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy ("Toots") Miller of Hooker, Sally Michael of Bruin and Joan (Earl) Phillips of Parker; five brothers, Clifford (Jackie) Eiler of West Sunbury, Park (Elva M.) Eiler of New York, Bill Eiler of Parker, Donnie (Janice) Eiler of Parker and Robert Eiler of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jennifer; and siblings Hilda, Gerard and Raymond Eiler.

<B>EILER</B> — Friends of John J. "Jack" Eiler, who died Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, Wayne Street, Parker. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Allegheny Cemetery, near Parker.Members of the VFW and American Legion will conduct military honors at 10:45 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.Information also is available at www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.