John R. Machak

South Renovo - John R. Machak, age 95, of Bitumen, died at Bucktail Medical Center on Monday, March 31, 2008. He was born in Bitumen on May 16, 1912, son of the late Roman M. and Magdaline (Pitonyak) Machak. John worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for over 40 years, working as a track patrol employee when he retired in 1974. He worked various other jobs during his lifetime. He owned and operated a coal mine in Bitumen, cut lumber for paper mills, cut ice blocks from the river and transported them to the company store in Bitumen, and worked on the Westport bridge construction. John also obtained his insurance license and became a State Farm insurance agent. John was extremely proud to be the oldest living member of the Bitumen community and in his St. joseph Catholic church congregation. He and his wife, Ella, were very active in Bitumen. They were founding members of the Bitumen Shrine and reunion and even bought two school buses, one of which Mrs. Machak drove, to transport the Bitumen children to the local schools. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance Union, First Catholic Slovak Union, was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed having a garden every year. John was married to Ella L: Machak for 66 years. She preceded him in July of 2007. Also preceding him were three sisters. Surviving is his son: George (Sandra) Machak of Renovo, daughters: Margaret E. (Thomas) Jordan of Erie, Mary A. (Todd) Stahley of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Anna L. (Jim) Knauff of North Bend. Also surviving is a brother: Anthony Machak of Erie, 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, one niece and one nephew. A mass of the resurrection will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Renovo at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2008 with Fr, Donald E. Boslett officiating. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hyner. The family will receive friends at the Maxwell Funeral Home, 205 Fifth Street, Renovo from 6-8 p.m. Friday evening. Vigil services will be held at 7:45 p.m. Memorial donations are requested to the Bitumen Shrine or the Bucktail Medical Center Auxiliary. On line condolences may be sent to www.Bestlifetributes.com