Obituary of Francis John Krokos

Francis John Krokos Sr., of the Miner-Mills section of Wilkes-Barre, a humble servant of the Lord entered into his eternal rest on Monday, June 17, 2013, at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre. Born on July 9,1929, in Parsons, he was a son to the late John and Anna Lukasivich Krokos. He attended local schools and was a graduate of James M. Coughlin, class of 1947. After graduation, Frank joined the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean Conflict. During his service, he was promoted quickly to a Staff Sergeant. He became a radar instructor teaching many cadets the duties they had to perform. While in the Air Force he was a pitcher on a championship winning softball team. His love of softball continued into his civilian life where he was a pitcher on many trophy winning teams for the VFW in Parsons. When Frank returned home his knowledge of electronics got him a government job working for Maxxon in Old Forge, doing quality control. Frank left after a few years and began working for WGBI and WDAU as an electronics technician where he worked in the MUZAK division setting up music system in public places like the Wyoming Valley Mall and other popular venues in our community. After thirty years he retired, and continued to work at the station as a handyman. Frank was a life-long ham radio operator, call sign WA3JVQ, who took part for many years in the Civil Defense Network. He was always very active with his church and served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. John the Baptist Church in Miner-Mills as well as the Treasurer for the Men of the Sacred Heart. He had a great devotion for the rosary. He and his wife, the former Mildred Novinski, also known as Millie, led a weekly rosary prayer group at Blessed Sacrament Church in Miner Mills for over ten years. Later in life they both were members of the Rosary Makers at St. Francis Church which made rosaries for servicemen overseas. Frank was a current member of St. Benedict's parish, Parsons, and the Joseph E. Conlon American Legion Post 558, Plains. He served his community as the Vice President, and later President of the Senior Citizens of Miner-Mills. He was a man of strong faith and moral character who was a good father and husband and he will be missed dearly by his loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his son Francis J. Krokos Jr., sisters Josephine Krokos and Margaret Zapotoczny, and brother John Krokos Jr. Surviving are his wife of sixty one years, Millie, at home; daughter Lois A. Kruzlik and husband Thomas, Forty-Fort; son Richard and his wife Maureen, West Wyoming; grandchildren PFC Brittany Chapman of the US Army stationed in Colorado, Staci Emanuele and husband Nicholas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; sisters Delores Hiedix, Wilkes-Barre; Genevieve Nat, Hudson; Lillian McGrady and her husband Michael, Plains; Ann Marie Swetz, Plains; brothers Joseph(Zeb) and his wife Jenny, Florida; Walter and his wife Marianne, Wilkes-Barre; Richard and his wife Diane, Plains; sister-in-law Patricia Krokos, Wilkes-Barre; daughter-in-law Kerry Krokos, Milwaukee, WI; god daughter Michelle Bernardo and her husband Joseph, Spring City, PA; and many loving nieces and nephews. Frank's funeral will be held on Friday, June 21, at 9:30 am from the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark Street, Plains, Pa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Benedict's Church at 10:00am with Rev. Joseph Kearney officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Hanover Twp., will military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force and the American Legion Post 558, Plains. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Thursday, June 20, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m. The Men of the Sacred Heart will recite the rosary during the calling hours. For directions to the funeral home or condolences to the family, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to honor our veteran with memorial donations to: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.