John Joseph Simko, Sr.

On June 4, 2014, John Joseph Simko Sr. departed this life to be with the Lord.

He was born August 22, 1921, in Drienov, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), to Stefan Simko and Barbara Hrivnak Simko. His father Stefan left Czechoslovakia in 1923 to come to the United States. Barbara Hrivnak Simko died in 1926, leaving John with relatives.

In 1932, at the age of eleven years, speaking no English and penniless, John came to the United States to join his father, stepmother Mary Simko, and his half-brother Edward Simko, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. He began first grade at St. Mark’s Catholic School in McKees Rocks, where he learned English and other academic subjects. He graduated from McKees Rocks High School in June of 1942, six months after the Pearl Harbor attack that brought the United States into World War II.

In September, 1942, John was drafted into the Army of the United States. After completing Basic Training in Georgia, Advanced Training in DeRidder, Louisiana, and Ordnance Aircraft Ammunition School in Santa Anita, California, he was sent to be with U.S. forces in Australia.

During World War II, in addition to Australia, he served in New Guinea, the Philippines—Leyte and Luzon, Okinawa, and with the original Occupation Forces in Japan in 1945. He briefly separated honorably from the Army of the United States (Army Air Force) in January, 1946, decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. Later in 1946, he rejoined the Army Air Force (to become the U. S. Air Force in 1947).

On January 29, 1947, he married Ann M. Rudolchick at St. Mary’s Church in McKees Rocks. In August, 1948, their first son, Steven, was born, also in McKees Rocks.

In September, 1951, John was sent to Korea to participate with U.S. forces in the Korean War. He returned from Korea in the fall of 1952, receiving two more Bronze Stars.

In late 1952 he was transferred to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The Simkos’ second son, James, was born at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC, in July, 1955.

Beginning in 1953, John began taking college courses in the evenings through the University of Maryland. In the first half of 1958, he participated in Operation Bootstrap, where he was excused from military duties to study full time at the University of Maryland. In June, 1958, he graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, with a minor in English.

After graduation from the University of Maryland, John (and family) was transferred to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in June, 1958. The family lived at Scott Air Force Base until February, 1960.

John and family were then sent to Tachikawa Air Force Base, near Tokyo, Japan, where they stayed until June, 1961.

The next move for John and family was to Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, Florida. The Simkos lived at Eglin Air Force Base from June of 1961 until February, 1963, when John was transferred to Ft. Miley/Hamilton Air Force Base, California. He and Mrs. Simko purchased a home in South San Francisco, California. In June, 1964, the third son, John Joseph Simko Jr., was born at Letterman Army Hospital, The Presidio, San Francisco, California.

June of 1965 brought the last assignment of John’s military career—a transfer to the Pentagon.

The family moved from California to Camp Springs, Maryland.

In July, 1969, John retired from active duty with the Air Force, after 27 years of distinguished military service. He then served for nearly 15 years with the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., retiring from government work in 1984.

After moving from Camp Springs, Maryland in 1984, John and Ann resided in Laurel, Maryland, for two years before moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1986. In order to be closer to their (now adult) sons, they relocated to Waldorf, Maryland in 1987.

He was also the family head and provider who helped put his three sons through college on an enlisted military salary and, later, a mid-level federal government salary.

John’s “post-retirement” included short stints as a substitute teacher and several years as a real estate agent.

His non-military travels included much of the eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as the Great Lakes, the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Eastern Canada. In addition, he and Ann made two trips to Europe, visiting Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and a return visit to his birthplace in eastern Slovakia.

Between travels, he kept busy tending to the lawn, maintaining and upgrading the house, reading about history and politics, working crossword puzzles, and baby-sitting his and Ann’s two grandchildren—Joseph and Amy. A devout Catholic, he was a generous donor to Catholic Charities and often attended daily mass into his early 90’s. He was also an avid sports fan, especially of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ann M. of Waldorf, Maryland, his sons; Steven (Joan) of Dumfries, Virginia, James of Odenton, Maryland, and John Jr. (Ann Marie) of Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, he is survived by two grandchildren; Joseph P. Simko and Amy E. Simko of Alexandria, Virginia, and two step-grandchildren; Paul Caccia of Annandale, Virginia, and Tammy Scaife of Dale City, Virginia.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Waldorf, Maryland. Viewing will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m.

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Maryland Chapter.