Walter Stanley Mankowski

MANKOWSKI, WALTER, 89, went to be with the Lord on April 7, 2017. He was born in Weirton, West Virginia on June 24, 1927, and was the son of the late Adam and Bernice (Marcziewska) Mankowski. Walter grew up on his parents' farm along Kings Creek Road and attended one of the area's original one-room schoolhouses as a child. He married his beloved wife, Anne M. Krynicki, on February 26, 1949, and was married for 65 years. In addition to his parents and his wife, Walter was also preceded in death by five brothers, Frank, Stanley, Tony, John, and Edward Mankowski, and four sisters, Mary Kowalik, Laura Rosiak, Ida Bilkowski, and Anne Kasprzak. Walter was a quiet man of inner strength who was loved by all. He knew no strangers and always greeted everyone with a firm handshake and his ever-present heartfelt smile. Walter was a devoted husband and a loving father, whose very kind heart and giving spirit were blessings to everyone. He had a deep love and devotion to his wife and spent the final years of her life faithfully caring for her and expressing his boundless love for her each and every day. Walter loved the Lord and instilled his Christian values in his children and grandchildren by the way he lived his life. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with his son and grandsons. Walter remained very active throughout his lifetime, loving to swim, roller skate, bowl, and ice skate. As a young man, Walter was a great baseball player who continued his love for baseball throughout his life. He was also an accomplished harmonica player who loved to entertain his family during holidays and family events, as well as his good friends at the Country Friends. Walter generously volunteered his time every week playing for the patients at local nursing homes. He will be forever remembered and missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Walter was a truck driver for the Weirton Steel Company and retired after 43 years of dedicated service. He was a member of the Weirton Steel 25 year Club, the McDonald Rod & Gun Club, the Paris Sportsman Club, and the NRA. He attended the Weirton First Church of the Nazarene. Walter is survived by three daughters, Christine Mankowski, Mary Ann Tucker (Jim), and Kathleen Cowey (Paul), and one son, Raymond Mankowski. In addition to his children, Walter is also survived by five grandchildren, Tiffany Devore (Joshua), Jamie Stierwalt (Jim), Matthew Mankowski (Sarah), Zachary Mankowski, and Kevin Cowey (Emily), as well as seven great-grandchildren. Friends and family will be received at Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and again on Thursday at the Weirton First Church of the Nazarene located at 475 Colliers Way, at 10 a.m. A celebration of Walter's life will be held at the church on Thursday, at 11 o'clock, with Pastor Brian Richardson officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Weirton First Church of the Nazarene, 475 Colliers Way, Weirton, WV, 26062.