John Robert Senkalski, age 86, a lifetime resident of Waterford, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. He was born at home on May 3, 1936, the youngest son of the late John P. and Veronica Winniewicz Senkalski.

John attended school in Waterford where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He married Lorraine Lamb, of McKean, on December 26, 1959, and the two were inseparable for the next 58 years.
John served in the U.S. Army from 1959-1962, where he was stationed at Fort Knox, KY, and trained in teletype communications and served as a Chaplain Assistant. John worked as a lineman for the Waterford Electric Company and Penelec, retiring in 1994.

In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, playing cards, watching sports, and baking cookies. He was a dedicated and loving husband, dad, and “Papa”. He loved his family and enjoyed watching it grow. He attended Draketown Christian Church and was a lifetime member of the Siebenbuerger Club and American Legion Post 285.

Preceding John in death were his wife Lorraine, son-in-law Gary Post, and siblings Anna Mileski, Florence Stankey, Tomas, Edward, and Theodore Senkalski, and Loretta Fuson.

His surviving family members include his two daughters, Lisa Daugherty (Carl) and Jan Post; his sister Theresa Hepler; grandsons David Daugherty (Erica) and Jason Daugherty (Halsey); his great-grandchildren Benjamin, Ethan, Connor, and Abigail Daugherty, all of Waterford; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Jean Senkalski and Isabella Senkalski.

Friends may call at Van Matre Funeral Home in Waterford on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm, and may attend a Christian funeral at Draketown Church on Saturday at 10:00 am. Committal service and burial will follow at Waterford Cemetery.