Stanley W. Gralak, Jr.

Stanley W. “Zak” Gralak, Jr., age 93, of Weedville, PA and recently of St. Marys, died November 1, 2023 at Elk Haven Nursing Home after a short illness.  A son of the late Stanley and Virginia (Benevich) Gralak, Sr, he was born on December 9, 1929 in Force, PA.  He married Minnie (Assalone) on August 22, 1953; she preceded him in death on February 23, 2019.

Besides his parents and his wife, Zak was predeceased by: two brothers, Ed and Joe Gralak; and three sisters, Betty Resch, Virginia Myers and Irene Rinehuls.

Zak is survived by: three children, Michele Gralak of Reston, VA, Stan (Nicole) Gralak of Emporium and Steve “Beaver” (Kim) Gralak of Clearwater, FL; four grandchildren, Jessica, Isaac, Anna and Zakary; four great-grandchildren, Louie, Dominic, Audra and Vincent; and four sisters, Genevieve Zambanini, Rita Anzinger, Dorothy Chiodo and Yvonne Gralak.

Zak graduated from Bennetts Valley High School and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Force.  He served in the US Army from 1948-1951 and retired from Stackpole Carbon after many years.  In his prime, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, playing ball with his kids and grandkids, watching the Steelers, and having a beer with the neighbors.  The last few years were challenging as he’d been in Elk Haven.  The staff took very good care of him and he even made them laugh sometimes.  “A big thank you to everyone at Elk Haven.”

Public visitation will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Ralph M. Geer Funeral Home of Penfield, PA.  Funeral services will be held, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home with Father Mark Mastrian.

Interment will take place in the St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery next to his wife.

Military Honors will be accorded by the Bennetts Valley American Legion Post 978 Honor Guard.

The family suggests memorials to the Elk Haven Nursing Home or the Bennetts Valley American Legion, and will be accepting online condolences at the Ralph M. Geer Funeral Home website (www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com).