John M. Furka, 91, of Karns City passed away Sunday in Meadow Lake Manor of Sugar Creek Rest, Worthington, following a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

He proudly served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II from Dec. 14, 1942, to Jan. 22, 1946.

He worked for Witco in Petrolia for 32 years, retiring in 1986. He also worked for the Pittsburgh Limestone Co. in Bradys Bend and the Pullman-Standard in Butler.

He was a member of the Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church and the Altar Rosary Society of the Church in Chicora. He was a member of the American Legion of Bradys Bend, the Slovak Club in Lyndora and the Chicora Senior Center.

He enjoyed bowling, playing cards and numerous other crafts. However, most recently he delighted in doing paint-by-numbers pictures, many of which he gave away.

Born on March 21, 1923, in Lyndora, he was the son of the late George Furka and Josephine Horvatic.

He married Mary Sirich Furka on June 14, 1947, and she passed away on Oct. 1, 2007.

He is survived by his daughter, Patricia and Robert Shabata of Banning, Calif.; his son, George Furka of Karns City and his companion, Karen Allen of Chicora; his grandchildren, Keary and Jaime Furka of Maine, Regina and Joseph Wallace of San Francisco; his two great-grandchildren; his brother, Joseph and Marge Furka of Lyndora, and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three sisters and his two brothers.

Furka— The friends of John M. Furka, who passed away Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Steighner Funeral Home, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets, downtown Chicora.A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Mater Dolorosa Church, 409 N. Main St., Chicora, with full military honors conducted at the church by the Chicora and East Brady American Legion, the Chicora VFW and the 99th Readiness Command. Interment of cremains will be in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Bradys Bend.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc., 117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.For directions, information and to extend condolences to John's family go to www.steighnerfuneralhome.com.