John Walter Klakos

John Walter Klakos passed away at Valley Hospice Care Center North, Steubenville, Ohio on July 13, 2010 after a long, brave battle with cancer. The family is especially grateful to Valley Hospice for their outstanding care during a most difficult time. John was born in Weirton on December 31, 1937 to the late John Earl and Gladys Gromek Klakos. He was also preceded in death by his sister Francis Karpinski, brother Robert Klakos and dear nephew Daniel Karpinski, who passed away recently in June. John was educated at Sacred Heart of Mary Elementary School and Steubenville Catholic Center High School. He was a graduate of Bliss College, Columbus, OH, with a degree in accounting. John was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America as a young boy, played basketball in high school and was awarded a scholarship to play basketball in college. He was a member of the Phi Theta Pi fraternity. John started working at a young age installing furnaces with Fabian Furnace. He worked in the accounting department for Titanium Metals in Toronto, OH and was a supervisor at Weirton Steel tin mill electrolytic lines. He also owned and operated Klakos Fruit Market in Florence, Pennsylvania and Sausage Express sandwich shop in Weirton. He enjoyed doing projects big and small around the house. He loved to go to auctions and he liked to collect different things. His greatest joy was preparing gourmet meals for family and friends. He was able to spend most of the recent winters at his second residence in Jupiter, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eileen Warren Klakos; his only child Klair Klakos Gulden and husband Mark of Pittsburgh, PA and their three sons Jonathan, Jared and Josh. He is also survived by sister Dolores Smith and husband Charles; mother-in-law Donna Warren; sister-in-law Carol Klakos plus nieces, nephews, aunts and many cousins. Friends will be received Friday from 2-4 and 7-9PM at Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton, WV. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated 10AM Saturday at Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church with Reverend Father Dean Borgmeyer officiating. Interment will be in St. Paul Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 200 Preston Avenue, Weirton, WV 26062 or Valley Hospice, 10686 State Route 150, Rayland, OH 43943.