Valasek

Emanuel M. “Val” Valasek, 81, of Noblesville, Ind., formerly of Brackenridge, went home to the Lord on Tuesday.

Val, as he was known to family and friends, was the beloved and devoted husband of Lois Anthony Valasek; beloved father of Cathy (Alan) Caponi of Pittsburgh, Laurel (Rufus) Manley of Atlanta, Tony (Doretta) Valasek of Indianapolis, Ind., and Anne (Tony) Angera of Philadelphia; loving brother of Walter (Marian) Valasek, Dolly (Tom) O'Connell, Yvonne (Ed) Jungle, the late Bernadine (Raymond) Kort, the late Margaret (Henry) Maliszewski, the late Mildred (Zigmund) Mazur, the late Albert Valasek and the late Robert Valasek; beloved grandfather of Ed (Shalimar) Valasek and Adriana and Brett Caponi; and beloved brother-in-law of Mary (John) Gabriele, Janet (James) Dimitt and Andrew Thompson. Val also is survived by many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Born in Brackenridge on Dec. 2, 1930, he was the son of the late Michael and Caroline (Hrustinec) Valasek.

A 1949 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Natrona, Val attended college in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in Europe. Upon his discharge, he returned to Pennsylvania and worked for 10 years at Allegheny Ludlum in Brackenridge as a quality control engineer before accepting a position with the Norton Simon Glass Containers Co. in Knox, Pa. He later transferring to the Indianapolis area where he retired as director of quality control. He and his wife, Lois, most recently lived in the Indianapolis area.

Val was an avid Steelers fan and rarely missed a game, spending many Sunday afternoons at the Nickel Plate Bar and Grill in Fishers, Ind., a well-known Steelers bar there, to watch the game with family and fellow Steelers fans.

He was previously a devoted member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Natrona and a present member of the St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Carmel, Ind.

Val loved life, his family and especially children; he counted many as friends. We know he will be very much missed though his spirit will remain with us always.

<B>VALASEK</B> — Friends and family of Emanuel M. “Val” Valasek, who died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, will be received at the <B>Duster Funeral Home</B>, 347 E. 10th Ave., Tarentum, 724-224-1526, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. The rosary of the Blessed Mother will be said for Val at 7 p.m. Monday.A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Joseph's Parish, St. Ladislaus Church on Spruce Street in Natrona with entombment at Mt. Airy Cemetery in Natrona Heights. The Rev. William P. Siple will officiate. A memorial Mass in celebration of Val's life will be said at noon Jan. 14 at the St. Elizabeth Seton Roman Catholic Church in Carmel, Ind.Marine Corps League Detachment 827 will hold services in the funeral home at 7 p.m. Monday. Full military honors will be by Tarentum VFW Post 5758.In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212-1694 or to the St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 10655 Haverstick Road East, Carmel, Ind. 46033.Information also is available at www.dusterfuneralhomeinc.com.