John E. "Lefty" Mikeska, 76, of Shaffer Road in the Forks Church area of Gilpin Township died at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2005 in Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg.

He was born June 2, 1929 in Waterman to John and Catherine (Magoosic) Mikeska.

Mr. Mikeska was a me-chanic at the Schenley Plant of Joseph S. Finch Co. for 31 years. He retired as a mechanic at the New Kensington Container Co. He was also a former attendant at Clawson Funeral Home, Leechburg

. He was a 1948 graduate of Leechburg High School.

A Navy veteran, he served during the Korean War.

He was a member of Christ the King Parish in Leechburg.

His other memberships included the Leechburg Area Knights of Columbus and the American Legion of Schenley.

His interests included gar-dening, doing yard maintenance and watching football, baseball and boxing on TV.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Irene E. (Catlos) Mikeska; one son, Edward J. Mikeska of Tucson, Ariz.; one daughter, Carol Solomon and husband Terry of Gilpin Township; two grandchildren, Eric and Rachel Solomon; one brother, Frank J. Mikeska and wife Winnie of Coryden, Ind.; and two sisters, Helen Race and husband Richard of Havre DeGrace, Md. and Dolores "Nootsie" Demyanek and husband Louis of West Leechburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends will be welcomed by his family from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Clawsons, Second at Main, Leechburg where the Leechburg Area Knights of Columbus will hold a service at 8:15 p.m. Friday and Parting Prayers of Transfer will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A Christian Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Christ the King Parish with his pastor, the Rev. Joseph V. Trupkovich, officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine Cemetery, Gilpin Township.

(Obituary from The Valley News Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.)