Maloy-Schleifer Funeral Home
Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | September 25, 2021
John Paul Byrnes, December 26, 1916-September 23, 2021, of West Mifflin. Three months shy of his 105th birthday, John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his daughters, on Thursday, September 23, 2021. John was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie (Horten) Byrnes of 57 years, his parents, Emmett and Marie Byrnes and eight of his ten siblings, Bill (88), Andy (97), Betsy Gill (85), Bob (104), Elaine (100), Joe (91), Richard (28) and Jimmy (85). Those left behind to celebrate his life are his three daughters, Pam (late Rick) DeBor of South Park, Joyce (Bob) Dowd of Canonsburg and Rita Byrnes of West Mifflin; granddaughter, Heather (Kevin) Pazandak and two great grandsons, Everett and Nolan Pazandak of Rogers, MN; and his two remaining siblings, Patrick of Ohio and Carmine Lieb of Nicktown, PA. As a young man, John worked in the coal mines of Hastings Fuel Company, drilling, setting charges and blasting coal. In January 1942, at the age of 25, John enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was assigned to the 35th Materials Squadron, stationed in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in November 1945, having received a Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 4 Bronze Stars and the WWII Victory Medal. In 1948, John and Marjorie moved to Duquesne and eventually West Mifflin where John worked for the USS Irvin Works until he retired. John lived a long life, which was ironic as he cheated death on numerous occasions. Quarantined four times in his lifetime for the Spanish Flu of 1918, diphtheria, scarlet fever and more recently Covid 19. He was also a 20 plus year survivor of colon cancer. John showed his family how to persevere in difficult times as he lived through the depression, a World War, and most recently a Pandemic. Dad, know that your daughters appreciate all the sacrifices you and mom made for us, that we will miss you, but, most of all, that you are Both loved. Until we meet again, may God hold you Both in his loving arms. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2021, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the MALOY-SCHLEIFER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 915 KENNEDY AVE., DUQUESNE, 15110, 412-466-3300. Blessing service will be held at the funeral Home on Monday, September 27, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Duquesne, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Mifflin, with Military Honors.
Originally published September 25, 2021.
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