Obituary of John Panek

Name: John P. "Boots" Panek Date of Death: Friday, February 01, 2008 Residence: Rome, New York Age: 83 Obituary:John "Boots" Panek, 92, of 113 Crossgates Rd., Rome, died on Thursday, January 31, 2008, in Rome Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born on December 23, 1915, in Old Forge, PA, the son of Peter and Anna Foss Panek. He graduated from Old Forge High School, Class of 1933. On May 10, 1941, he was united in marriage with Anne Sidor, in Manhattan, NY. She died on March 18, 2003. They were residents of Rome since 1954. Boots was employed by Griffiss Air Force Base for twenty-six years, retiring in January 1980. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during WWII. He was a member of St. Peter's Church in Rome. Boots enjoyed bowling and golfing. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rome Bowling Hall of Fame and was currently a member of the Monday Senior Men's League at King Pin Lanes. He was a pitcher for semi-pro baseball for the Pittsburgh organization in the 1930's and at one time was invited by Rogers Hornsby for a try-out with the New York Yankees. Surviving are his daughters, Lorraine and her husband, Jerry Bedingfield, of San Antonio, TX, and Karen Vogel, of Westernville, and son-in-law, Craig Vogel; a son, Paul Panek, of Rome, and his friend, Vicki Selvetti; five grandchildren, John Panek and his wife, Mandy, of Davenport, Iowa, Jeff Panek, of Des Moines, Iowa, Kelly Robles, of Dallas, TX, Nancy Bedingfield, of Austin, TX, and Steven Bedingfield, of San Antonio, TX; two great-grandchildren, Manuel Robles and Nicolas Robles, both of Dallas, TX; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 4, 2008, at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, at 7:00 PM. Family and friends are invited and may call on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Boots' memory to the John P. Panek Scholarship for Junior Bowlers, c/o AmeriCU Credit Union-Griffiss Park, 231 Hill Rd., Rome, NY 13441. Services: Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 4, 2008, at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, at 7:00 PM. Family and friends are invited and may call on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Boots' memory to the John P. Panek Scholarship for Junior Bowlers, c/o AmeriCU Credit Union-Griffiss Park, 231 Hill Rd., Rome, NY 13441.