1930
Richard
2023
Richard S. "Ski" Kanaski
March 3, 1930 — October 14, 2023
Ret. Chief Warrant Officer Richard S. "Ski" Kanaski, father, brother, pa, "American Patriot" 93 years of age of New Ringgold, Pennsylvania passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.
Born Monday, March 3, 1930 in Krinestone, Michigan. The son of the late Felix, and Gladys (Murawski) Kanaski. Ski was also predeceased by his wife Sarah E. (Batty) Kanaski on July 14, 2007; son, Mark E. Kanaski on June 24, 2022. Ski was one of five siblings.
Surviving are; sons, Richard S. Kanaski Jr. and his wife Meg Mack, Robert J. Kanaski and his wife Marjorie, Michael K. Kanaski, Tim W. Kanaski and his wife Denise, Ronald Hollander and his wife Charlotte, grandchildren, Christopher Kanaski, Megan Kanaski, Katherine Kanaski, Jennifer Kanaski, Stephanie Kanaski, Robert S. Kanaski, Ashley Sinclair, Andrew Kanaski, Grayson Shivell, Olivia Shivell, Shayne, and Cameron Hollander; great grandchildren, Dutch, and James VanSloten; Kenzie Sinclair, Adalynn and Brody Hollander. Also his cousin and dearest friend Melvin Gentner.
A 1948 graduate of Mayerville High School, MI., Ski served honorably in the United States Navy for 33 years in many roles, retiring from the Pentagon as Chief Warrant Officer in charge of detail assignments throughout the world. At NAS Memphis Ski oversaw the Navy Aviation Technical Training Center, he was the lowest ranking officer to hold this position. Ski commanded the Aviation Maintenance personnel of the helicopter squadron HS-6 responsible for the recovery of the Apollo capsule involved in the 1975 Joint American-Russian Apollo-Soyuz mission off the coast of Hawaii. Multiple tours of duty in Korea, Vietnam and in the Middle East, Ski served on the USS Ticonderoga, USS Midway, USS Enterprise, USS Constellation and the USS Ranger. During his tenure in the Navy he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star, Navy “E” Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal with 3 bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star, Vietnam Service medal with 7 stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Ski was a devoted member of St. John XXIII R.C.C. of Tamaqua, attending daily mass, and was active in the Holy Name Society.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday October 23, 2023 at 11 o'clock A.M. from St. John XXIII R.C.C. 307 Pine Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252.
Friends may call at the funeral home on the morning of services from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M.
Interment with Military honors bestowed will be held at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville, Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning October 24, 2023 at 9 o'clock A.M.
Memorials in Ski's name to:
Disabled American Veteran
1123 East End Blvd.
Wilkes - Barre, Pennsylvania 18702
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com
Born Monday, March 3, 1930 in Krinestone, Michigan. The son of the late Felix, and Gladys (Murawski) Kanaski. Ski was also predeceased by his wife Sarah E. (Batty) Kanaski on July 14, 2007; son, Mark E. Kanaski on June 24, 2022. Ski was one of five siblings.
Surviving are; sons, Richard S. Kanaski Jr. and his wife Meg Mack, Robert J. Kanaski and his wife Marjorie, Michael K. Kanaski, Tim W. Kanaski and his wife Denise, Ronald Hollander and his wife Charlotte, grandchildren, Christopher Kanaski, Megan Kanaski, Katherine Kanaski, Jennifer Kanaski, Stephanie Kanaski, Robert S. Kanaski, Ashley Sinclair, Andrew Kanaski, Grayson Shivell, Olivia Shivell, Shayne, and Cameron Hollander; great grandchildren, Dutch, and James VanSloten; Kenzie Sinclair, Adalynn and Brody Hollander. Also his cousin and dearest friend Melvin Gentner.
A 1948 graduate of Mayerville High School, MI., Ski served honorably in the United States Navy for 33 years in many roles, retiring from the Pentagon as Chief Warrant Officer in charge of detail assignments throughout the world. At NAS Memphis Ski oversaw the Navy Aviation Technical Training Center, he was the lowest ranking officer to hold this position. Ski commanded the Aviation Maintenance personnel of the helicopter squadron HS-6 responsible for the recovery of the Apollo capsule involved in the 1975 Joint American-Russian Apollo-Soyuz mission off the coast of Hawaii. Multiple tours of duty in Korea, Vietnam and in the Middle East, Ski served on the USS Ticonderoga, USS Midway, USS Enterprise, USS Constellation and the USS Ranger. During his tenure in the Navy he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star, Navy “E” Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal with 3 bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star, Vietnam Service medal with 7 stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Ski was a devoted member of St. John XXIII R.C.C. of Tamaqua, attending daily mass, and was active in the Holy Name Society.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday October 23, 2023 at 11 o'clock A.M. from St. John XXIII R.C.C. 307 Pine Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252.
Friends may call at the funeral home on the morning of services from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M.
Interment with Military honors bestowed will be held at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville, Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning October 24, 2023 at 9 o'clock A.M.
Memorials in Ski's name to:
Disabled American Veteran
1123 East End Blvd.
Wilkes - Barre, Pennsylvania 18702
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard S. "Ski" Kanaski, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation / Calling
Monday, October 23, 2023
9:30 - 10:30 am (Eastern time)
E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc
Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, October 23, 2023
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
St. John XXIII R.C.C.
Graveside Committal
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Starts at 9:00 am (Eastern time)
Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
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