John C. 'Jack' Staje, Sr.

WILLIAMSPORT - John C. "Jack" Staje, Sr., age 96, formerly of Fifth Avenue, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 11, 2011, at The Hearthside Nursing Center, State College, where he had resided since January, 2010. Born on June 16, 1914, in Williamsport, he was the son of the late Christian J. and Lillian (Williams) Staje. He was a graduate of the Williamsport High School/Class of 1932. Jack celebrated sixty-two years of marriage with his beloved wife, the late Elizabeth (Betty) Powell Staje before she died on February 29, 2004. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the European Theatre in the United States Army Infantry. Jack had worked at the Darling Valve Company for twenty-eight years, and later retired from C.A. Reed/Westvaco. He was a life member of the Central Baptist Church, Williamsport. Jack was also a life member of the John F. Laedlein Lodge #707/F. & A.M., Williamsport, and the Republican League, Williamsport. He was a former member of the Valley of Williamsport/A.A.S.R., the Irem Temple Shrine, the Williamsport Shrine Club, American Legion Post #1, Williamsport, and the VFW Post #7863, Duboistown. He loved baseball, and played well in his younger days, loved football and was an avid PennState fan, and loved working with the Shrine. Jack is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Carole D. (Charles) Heilig of Huntingdon, and his son and daughter-in-law Pastor John C. (Kathy) Staje, Jr., of Williamsport. He is also survived by his grandchildren Cady (Keith) Kyle, Cass (Michael) Stapleton, all of Huntingdon, and Cailin (James Vinson) Heilig, of Philadelphia, Erin Beirne, of Williamsport, and Ryan Beirne of Bloomsburg; his great granddaughters Elizabeth Kay (Ellie) and Charlotte Claudia Kyle, and Ada Toshiko and Lydia Carole Stapleton, all of Huntingdon; his brother-in-law Merlyn G. Hughes of Wilkes-Barre Township; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his father and mother and wife Betty, Jack was preceded in death by many beloved relatives and friends. There will be a visitation from 10:00 AM 12:00 Noon, on Friday, April 15, 2011, at the Allen & Redmond Funeral Home, 331 Elmira Street, Williamsport, followed by a service officiated by the Reverend Mark Mahserjian-Smith and Pastor Eleanor W. Siegrist. Interment will follow in the Green Lawn Memorial Park, Montgomery. In lieu of flowers, friends may consider an act of lovingkindness in his memory to the Central Baptist Church, 601 Seventh Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701.