Szymoniak

younger

James Szymoniak Jr., 64, of Prospect, passed away Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.

Born May 13, 1959, in Sewickley, Allegheny County, he was the son of Dianne Lee Prasek Szymoniak Opsatnik and the late James Szymoniak Sr.

Jim was a 1977 graduate of Ambridge Area High School. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and then proudly served from 1979 to 1989.

He retired in 2020 from PepsiCo, where he worked his own route driving, selling and delivering to his customers.

He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church of Prospect. He utilized his gift of humor as a head usher and greeter, making a lasting impression on most. As a prior youth group leader, he connected with the youth in a lot of ways: teaching life lessons and using biblical Scripture and mentoring youth in the outdoors in hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed the men’s breakfast and completing miscellaneous handyman jobs around the church.

Jim enjoyed living in Prospect, his small town where he enjoyed his neighbors, trips to the post office and store to chat with everyone. He was kind, caring and used his spiritual gift to share the Gospel with people he knew or didn’t know.

He was a member of the Prospect Area Preservation Society, where he volunteered in many aspects such as preserving the building projects, the annual Rubes Run and other fundraisers.

He was an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching and feeding wildlife, and most of all he loved his wife, daughters and babysitting his grandkids.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Harmon Szymoniak, whom he married Sept. 22, 2001; his children, Heather (Andrew) Fabry of North Jackson, Ohio, and Rachael (Steve) Shirey of Beaver; his mother, Dianne Lee Opsatnik of Beaver County; twin grandchildren, Clint and Olivia Fabry; stepmother, Lynda Szymoniak of Mercer; siblings, Jodi Kloos, Michelle (Ryan) Keezmer and Dan (Beckie) Opsatnik; nieces and nephew, Megan Defazio, Krysten Opsatnik and Daniel Opsatnik; mother-in-law, Mary Lou Harmon of Prospect; brother-in-law, James W. (Nancy) Harmon Jr.; and nephews and niece, Corey, Caleb and Cassie.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law, James W. Harmon Sr.

SZYMONIAK — Visitation for James Szymoniak Jr., who died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at RAISLEY FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 387 Main St., Prospect.

Additional visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Church of Prospect, 115 Church St., Prospect, where the funeral service will be at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Jason Sinagra, his church pastor, and the Rev. Larry Maley co-officiating. At the conclusion of the service, military honors will be held inside the church.

Interment will follow at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Butler.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Prospect, 115 Church St., Prospect, PA 16052, the Prospect Area Preservation Society, P.O. Box 586, Prospect, PA 16052, or Focus On Family at donate.focusonthefamily.com/donate.

To leave an online tribute, visit www.raisleyfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.