John J. (Jr.) Matisko

John Joseph Matisko Jr., of New Kensington, was received into the arms of his Lord and entered Paradise on Monday May 31 2021 at the age of 92. He resided at Logan Place, Senior Living Community, in Lower Burrell for several months following the passing of his wife Martha in November 2020.  John was the son of the late John J. Matisko Sr. and Elizabeth Tirdel Matisko, and was born in Arnold Pa. He graduated from Arnold High School in 1947 and served with the US Army at Fort Bliss Texas. After returning from the Army, he was employed as a millwright at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Creighton Works (Glass and Ceramics Workers Union Local 12) and as a machinist at Westinghouse Electric Corporation Cheswick (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1914), ultimately retiring in 1994.  He married Martha Irene Terpko of Jeannette Pa. in August 1955, and together with her raised three children (Michael, Diana, and David) in New Kensington.  John was highly skilled in multiple crafts including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and auto mechanics. His home remodeling talent knew no limits as he installed bathrooms, moved walls, and constructed bedrooms in a previously barren attic. He played basketball, baseball, and fast-pitch softball in high school and during his Army service, and enjoyed golf and bowling in his later years. He had a kind sense of humor and was a truly welcoming soul to all he met. He was a member of Puckety United Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell and treasured the friendships of his church family.  Once John retired, he and Martha joined the Westinghouse Retirees group and enjoyed bus trips to various vacation spots with friends, including New York, Cape Cod and Michigan. Together, they celebrated many milestones, including their Golden, 60th and 65th Wedding Anniversaries. Family and friends came together at their home to celebrate John's 90th birthday in May of 2019.

He was preceded in death by his wife Martha in November 2020, by his parents, and his siblings Margaret, William, Paul, Steven, Elizabeth (Betty Jean), and Bernadette. He is survived by his sons Michael of Newburgh, Indiana, Diana (Jim) Porcelli of Pittsburgh, and David of Valparaiso Indiana and five precious grandchildren, Michael (Kaitlyn) Porcelli, of Birmingham, Ala., Alexandria Matisko, of Columbus, Ohio, Alex Porcelli, of Nashville, Tenn., Louis Matisko and Samantha Matisko, of Valparaiso, Ind.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.  Family and friends will be received at the Frank F. Gigler Funeral Home, Inc., Robert P. Karish, Supervisor, 2877 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell, PA 15068 (724) 335-6500 on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.  A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Puckety Presbyterian Church, 1009 Puckety Church Road, Lower Burrell, PA 15068 (Everyone Meet at the Church).  Memorial contributions may be made to Puckety United Presbyterian Church, or Meals on Wheels of Lower Burrell, 1009 Puckety Church Road, Lower Burrell, PA 15068, or to a charity of one's own choosing. The family would like to thank the kind nurses and staff at Logan Place for sharing smiles and laughter with John as he adjusted to life in their community and Grane Hospice for their care. Interment will follow in Puckety Church Cemetery.  Condolences are welcome at www.giglerfuneralhome.com.

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