NEMO — John Wasilchak, 80, passed away Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, in the Harris Methodist Palliative Care Unit of Fort Worth. Fran, his wife of 52 years, was at his side. John was surrounded with love from the nurses, staff, doctors, close friends and family in this very special unit at the hospital.
Memorial service: There will be a memorial service planned in the near future. A posting will be placed in the local papers.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to The Lustgarten Foundation, www.lustgarten.org, 1111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, N.Y. 11714 in his memory. The Lustgarten Foundation grants money to fund research for a pancreatic cancer cure. 100 percent of donations go to research because of a corporate sponsor that has underwritten administration costs. The Lustgarten Foundation’s mission is to advance the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
John was a dynamic businessman and enjoyed spending his time with family and close friends. Both John and Fran received many blessings in their lives and felt a great joy in giving back in many ways. They did this by providing scholarships for numerous children, as well as, creating a music literacy and appreciation program between the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Glen Rose Independent School District. The program annually brings the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to the school for educational events for the children plus masters programs, trips to Bass Hall and other musical programs in Fort Worth. This exposes each and every student to the wonders and beauty of music. The educational programs and scholarships brought so much joy to John and Fran and they will continue to be a legacy and gift to the Glen Rose community.
John was born April 3, 1931, in Mahwah, N.J. His parents were from Czechoslovakia and he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Bertha Elko and Paul Janosko. He earned his degree in business administration at Lehigh University in 1953. After getting his degree, John spent two years in the United States Army.
While working for US Rubber out of New York, John was sent to the West Coast where he met the lady he would spend the rest of his life with, Fran. The following Christmas, John went home and announced to his family that he had met his future companion. He said he was going to marry her, despite the fact that she had already said “No” and called him a “Yankee.” John prevailed, and they were married in Stevenson, Wash., on April 20, 1959, and on May 10, 1959, in the Greek Catholic Church of Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Van Nuys, Calif. The couple moved to Texas in 1960. When his employer asked him to move back east he resigned, choosing instead to live in Texas with Fran and raise their family.
The decision paid off. John’s business skills flourished, allowing him to surprise Fran in 1978, on their 18th wedding anniversary, with a ranch and game preserve in Nemo. They have lived on the ranch ever since. John took pride in seeing Fran raise Arabian horses and they both have become an integral part of Somervell County making many wonderful, loving friendships. John overcame many health problems over the years and the community was always supportive, which played a major role in his recovery.
Survivors: His wife, Frances Effinger Wasilchak of Nemo; daughter, Jill Wasilchak Bayne of Fort Worth; son, John Craig Wasilchak and wife, Leslie, of Glen Rose; sister, Marie Wasilchak Santoriello and spouse, Sandy; grandchildren, Whitney Dwyer, Tanna Wasilchak, Matthew Bayne and Jake Wasilchak; nieces, Donna Frederick and spouse, Ron, and Gilda Raczkowski and spouse, Gary; nephews, Robert Santoriello and spouse, Juli, and Paul Santoriello and spouse, Nancy; great-nieces and grat-nephews, Lauren, Elizabeth, Clare, Emma, Caitlin, Joseph, Haley, Luci, Sophi; cousins, Barbara Mendelsohn Owens, Lauren Owens Janicki and spouse, Piotrek, David Mendelsohn and wife, Barbara, Trevor and Heather, Grayson and Ainsley, Devin and Ann, Kyle and Jennifer, Kennedy and Charlotte. All will miss him very much.
Wiley Funeral Home
Glen Rose, 254-897-2288