John V. Pastorek

John Valentine Pastorek of Natrona Heights passed away on October 16, 2017 at age 93. Born February 14, 1924 to John Stephen Pastorek and Josephine (Martonik) Pastorek, he was the third eldest of ten children. John graduated from Tarentum High School in 1942 and served in the United States Navy as a deep sea diver 1943-1945

He attended Carnegie Tech and Indiana State Teacher's College, earning both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education. John married Emma Scanga in 1948. During an extended layoff from the Creighton PPG glass plant he finished his education and began a career teaching art at West Deer and Deer Lakes high schools. John had a lifelong appreciation for classical music and was a prolific and talented artist, creating oil paintings of landscapes literally until the day he died. He was especially proud that the art gallery at Saint Vincent College acquired his original painting depicting the Biblical Revelation as part of their permanent collection.

He was an avid golfer and only gave up the game at age 92 because all of his golfing gang had passed on. John was ahead of his time in many things, especially nutrition, fitness and health. Over generations, he advocated eating whole foods and grains, using vitamin supplements, avoiding red meats and sugars, and taking long walks. Up until the day he died, he continued to take regular mile-long walks. John enjoyed talking with people from all walks of life, and especially enjoyed conversing with 'old timers' in the Slovak language. Earlier this year, John fulfilled a longtime dream of making a pilgrimage to the Mount of Apparitions and the Church of Saint James in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovinia.

John volunteered for many years teaching art at the St. Barnabas Home for Disabled Adults. He also volunteered at the Community Library of Allegheny Valley in Natrona Heights, and the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation.

He is survived by daughter, Joan (Robert) Pilat of Butler; daughter, Janett (Andrew) McConville of Tarentum; son, John D. (Diane) Pastorek of Valencia; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers and one sister; and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and sisters and his beloved wife of 66 years, Emma, who passed away last year at age 92. John was called by the Lord to be united with his wife on her birthday, October 16.
Friends will be received on Wednesday from 6-8 PM and on Thursday from 2-4, 6-8 PM in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle St. Natrona Heights 724-224-8688, where a blessing service will be held on Friday at 11:30 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 Noon in Most Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Aaron Kriss as celebrant. Burial with full military honors accorded by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights. To send an on line condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com. A funeral vigil service will be held in the funeral home on Thursday at 1:45 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of John may be made to the Allegheny Kiski Health Foundation, 1 Acee Drive, Natrona Heights, Pa. 15065.