John Stanley Anisko

November 1, 1935 – May 26, 2024

John Stanley Anisko, 88 ½, passed away in the early hours of May 26, 2024 in San Jacinto, California.

Son of Sofie (Korzenko) Anisko and Joseph Stanley Anisko, John was born in Naliboki, Poland on November 1, 1935. He had a sister Leokadia (Lorraine), 4 years older, and a younger sister Agnes who died very young. His family was forced into a German labor camp until the end of World War II. When he was 10 years old, his family immigrated to the United States of America passing through Ellis Island. They moved to Powhatan, Virginia for a few years before moving to Easthampton, Massachusetts. Upon graduating Easthampton High School, John enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Europe as Army Intelligence due to his broad linguistic skills. He received his B.A. Degree in Accounting from the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts and graduated as the Valedictorian of his class.

John was then recruited by Sears Roebuck and Company in Wilmington, Delaware in accounting. He steadily worked his way up in the accounting department first as a controller moving to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York gaining more stores under his supervision – eventually becoming the Eastern Territorial Comptroller working out of Chicago and Philadelphia. While at Sears, he met and married Elaine Frances (Smolka) in Wilmington, Delaware on October 26, 1963. They went on to have three children Karen Jane, Sandra Lynn and John Joseph which were the pride and joy of his life.

John retired from Sears after 30 years and returned to the workplace doing inventory control at Western Auto in Florida and Texas before moving to California. He resumed work in accounting at the Soboba Casino Resort until he was 80 years old. He was very civic minded and was a member of the San Jacinto Unified School District Citizens Oversight Committee as the Senior Citizens Group Representative for 7 years.

Most recently, he was a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteer at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hemet, California. John felt his calling was to spread the message of devotion to the Divine Mercy. Whether he was traveling for work or in the surrounding parishes, he was always giving out Divine Mercy Chaplet brochures or rosaries.

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elaine Frances Anisko of San Jacinto and their children John Joseph Anisko, Karen Jane Anisko Ryan (Jonathan Ryan), Sandra Lynn Anisko Jones (Scott Jones) and the 3 grandchildren, Sophia Frances Jones, Brady Ellis Jones and Dylan Scott Jones that he adored. He is predeceased by his sister Lorraine Korzenko (December 2023) formerly of Monroe Township, New Jersey and his parents.

A memorial mass will take place on June 14 at 11:00 am at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 26340 Soboba Street, Hemet, CA 92544. As a veteran, private burial will be at Miramar National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of John Anisko may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church – address above.