Lt. Colonel Steve A. Polink
Lt. Colonel Steve A. Polink, age 81, of Fairchance, Pa., died Saturday, January 22, 2005, in Latrobe Hospital, Latrobe, Pa.
He was born May 21, 1921, in York Run, Fayette County, Pa., son of Ignatius Polink and Magdalyn Globus Polink.
During World War II Steve served with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific, was a member of the invasion force during the Battle of Okinawa and also served six months in China.
He remained in the Active Military Reserves, graduated from Command and General Staff College and later became a Commanding Officer of the 429th Engineer Battalion from 1966 to 1974. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after 30 years of Military Service and on January 16, 1969, was awarded by the President of the United States the Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding achievements and devotion to duty in keeping with the high tradition of Military Service.
Steve graduated from Henderson University in Arkansas in 1948 where he played football and baseball.
He also was an alumnus of West Virginia University.
After college graduation he began teaching and coaching in the Brownsville School District. After four years in Brownsville he was offered a position in Georges Township (which is now Albert Gallatin) where he spent 31 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director, Assistant Principal and retired in 1983 as Principal.
He successfully operated his own businesses for 32 years.
Steve served eight years on the Fairchance Borough Council, four years on the Albert Gallatin School Board, and 55 years in the Fairchance Exchange Club where he served as President and was instrumental in building the playground, Canoe Canal, Youth League, and recruiting members.
He was a Life Member of V.F.W. Post 7219, Fairchance, Pa., the General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103, Hopwood, Pa., Life Member of American Legion Post 342, Elks Lodge No. 370, Sons of Italy 497, Catholic War Veterans, Life Member of the Reserve Officer’s Association, and a Life Member of the P.S.E.A. Retired.
He was also a member of the Big Ten Baseball Hall of Fame.
Steve was a member and served as an usher for 50 years at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Church, Fairchance, Pa.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank, Joseph, John and Anthony D. Polink, two sisters, Mary Katalinic and Kate Smith, and his parents.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Mary Nepa Polink; a daughter, Stephanie Polink Page of Greensburg, Pa.; one sister, Barbara Dubac of Fairchance, Pa.; one brother, Paul Polink and his wife, Cindy, of Carmichaels, Pa.; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Anthony and Nelle Budinsky, Mark King and Georgiana Kobylarczyk.
The family will receive friends in the GOLDSBORO-TOMI FUNERAL HOME, 21 East Church Street, Fairchance, Pa., on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday, January 27, until 9:30 a.m. when a Blessing Service will be held.
A Mass of Christian Burial follows at 10 a.m. in Ss. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Church, Fairchance, with the Rev. Father Andrew M. Kawecki as Celebrant.
Interment will follow in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Fairchance, Pa., where Graveside Military Rites will be accorded by the General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103 of Hopwood, Pa.
A Wake Service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m.