George Hornyak

GEORGE  HORNYAK

George Hornyak, age 90, passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2016 with family by his side at his home in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.  He was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania on August 31, 1926 , one of five children of Mike and Anna (Kovach) Hornyak.  George was offered a full scholarship to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, but instead, served in the U. S. Army for four years during World War II, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star. He worked 37 years for US Steel retiring in 1981.

He was a very talented artist.  This was demonstrated by his many wood work projects, grandfather clocks, wall clocks, jewelry boxes, tables, benches, banks, airplanes, tool boxes and many others and he could fix ANYTHING!  Besides his projects, he loved fishing; his hobbies were gardening (flowers and vegetables); cross pollinating (creating a different kind of Rose); listening to radio music, such as polkas or Big Band while sitting on his porch swing or the Cantina’s from the church and working with his grand and great-grandchildren at his workbench helping them to create something.

George loved to sing.  He was a member of the US Steel Men’s Choir and the Lebanon Presbyterian Church Choir.  He gave great “bear hugs”, a great-grandson said “he was always full of joy and happiness to see you!”

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Popsack and Alberta Sabo and one brother, Albert Hornyak and is survived by his wife, of almost 67 years, Ann (Hudak) Hornyak (George and Ann were married on Veterans Day, November 11, 1949); four children, daughter, Georgia Ann and sons, Robert (Connie) Hornyak of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, Thomas (Audrey) Hornyak of York, Pennsylvania and William (Lori) Hornyak of Hermitage, Tennessee;  8 grandchildren, Ryan (Julie) Hornyak of McMechen, West Virginia, Tracey Hornyak of Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania, Robert (Jessica) Hornyak of Cornelius, North Carolina, Sean Hornyak of Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, Jeremy (Rachelle) Hornyak of California, Jason (Megan) Hornyak of Texas, Zachary (Megan) Hornyak of West Mifflin and Brooke Hornyak of Sedona, Arizona; 7 great grandchildren, David, Mykaela, Xavier, Matthew, Zoe, Mila and Madison and one brother Mike Hornyak of West Homestead, Pennsylvania.

Friends will be received in the Stephen D. Slater Funeral Home 1701 Route 51, Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 PM.  His funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 10 AM. The Reverend Bob Titus of the Lebanon Presbyterian Church will officiate at the service.  George’s burial will follow with Military Honors in the Lebanon Church Cemetery.

His family suggests donations in his name be made to your favorite charity.

George loved God, his Ann and his family, especially the grand and great-grandchildren.