John Roskowski

John Roskowski (Johnny Up The Road), 90, of Oviedo, FL, formerly of Mountain Top, PA, passed away on September 23, 2014, at Lutheran Haven Nursing Home in Oviedo, FL.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on March 25, 1924, he was a son of the late Julius and Mary (Bodoviki) Roskowski. He attended Wilkes-Barre Twp. High School and was formerly a member of St. Mary's Polish Church, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

John became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mountain Top, PA in 1947 when he married his wife, the former Anna Gasper. Upon his passing, they were the oldest living married couple at St. Paul's, having just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on August 23. After moving to Florida in 1992, they became members of Hope Lutheran Church of Orlando, FL; and since 2013, St. Lukes's Lutheran Church of Oviedo, FL.

John joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was discharged in 1946, as a gunner's mate second class USNR attached to the Marine Corps 4th Division. During WWII John courageously fought in 4 amphibious invasions in the Central Pacific: Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll; Mariana Islands, Saipan, Tinian and the island of Iwo Jima. He received the Presidential Unit Citation from the 4th Marine Division for bravery, 3 bronze stars and the Purple Heart. He was also a member of the American Legion, Post 781 in Mountain Top, PA since 1946.

Prior to retirement, John was employed by the King Fifth Wheel in Mountain Top, PA for 34 years and before that, he worked in the coal mines in Wilkes-Barre, PA for 10 years.

John, better known as "Johnny Up The Road", was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, college football, and word searches. He was also a huge auto racing fan and was present at the ground breaking ceremony of Pocono Raceway as a shareholder. Together with his wife and family, he enjoyed travelling. Among his most memorable vactions were: fishing trips to Westport, Canada; Wildwood, NJ; Las Vegas; New York City; Spain and Africa; Hawaii; a cross coutry motor coach trip of the USA; and numerous cruises to Bermuda and the Caribbean. Needless to say, "On the Road Again" became his family's theme song. Most important, John was a loving and wonderful husband, a proud father and caring grandfather, who always put his family first. He will be greatly missed by his wife, family and friends.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Mary Ann; his brothers, Julius, Charles, Peter and Joseph; and his sisters, Annie, Helen, Verna, Sophie, Bertha and Frances.

John is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 67 years, Anna (Gasper) Roskowski and by his children, Sandra Nargoski and her husband Anthony, Drums, PA; John T. Roskowski, Orlando, FL; Thomas Roskowski and his wife Jill, Carrollton, VA; his sister Theresa O'Neill and her husband, Richard, Wilkes-Barre, PA; and his grandchildren, John Roskowski, Mountain Top, PA; Thomas Roskowski and his wife Abbey, Lansdale, PA and Tara Roskowski, Atlantic City, NJ; and many nieces and nephews.

His family wishes to thank the doctors and entire staff at Lutheran Haven Nursing Home and Vitas Hospice for the compassionate and loving care administered throughout John's illness.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 2041 W. State Road 426, Oviedo, FL 32765 or St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 316 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top, PA 18707.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, followed by the final committal services at Albert Cemetery, Alberts Corner, PA. Date and time to be announced.