James "Jim" Edward Gnacinski

James "Jim" Edward Gnacinski

James "Jim" Edward Gnacinski, 79 of Erie PA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at Select Specialty Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born on February 25, 1930 in Erie to the late Stanley and Alice Thompson Gnacinski.

Devoted Husband, Father and Grandfather, James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret Ferrick Gnacinski of Erie, his children, Sharon Wigfield & her husband Richard of Hagerstown MD, Gary Gnacinski of Erie, Robert Gnacinski of Florida, Virginia Farbo of Chambersburg PA and Paul Gnacinski and his wife Kathie McCooey Gnacinski of Erie. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, 5 sister-in-laws, 2 brothers-in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley F. Gnacinski, a daughter-in-law, Kim Gnacinski and son-in-law, Michael Farbo.

James retired from American Sterilizer Company in 1993 where he was a specialist machinist for over 40 years. He was also the owner and operator of Gnacinski and Sons, a scrap metal business located on East 10th street in Erie from 1965 to 2000. James was very proud of his Polish heritage, especially of the Polish music as he loved to polka. He was a diehard baseball fan for his grandsons and a member of the Quarter Century Club of AMSCO, Sons of Lake Erie and the Lawrence Park Coin Club.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Sunday from 2 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm and may attend a service there on Monday at 10:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Andrew RC Church, 1116 West 7th Street, at 11 am. Inurnment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery at a later date.