Obituary of John Tohanczyn

John Tohanczyn, Jr., 89, passed away February 12, 2015, at Harbor Hill Center in Belfast, Maine. Born in Philadelphia, on November 20, 1925, he was the son of John Tohanczyn, Sr. and Catherine Rupnicka. John Sr. and Catherine emigrated separately from Austria in 1913 and 1914. John grew up in Philadelphia and enlisted in the Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific aboard the U.S.S Baham. He worked as an officer in the Merchant Marine after the war ended, and then continued his naval service during the Korean War aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin. After his time at sea came to an end, John worked as a truck driver. He finally retired to Maine, where he very much enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who came to visit him from near and far. John is survived by his children Leslie Riehm of Auburn; John Tohanczyn III and his wife, Christine, of Hope; and Linda Seymour and her husband Jackie Seymour, of Bacliff, Texas; his grandchildren, John Bean of Bacliff, Texas; Frederick Riehm, of Auburn; and Benjamin, Madeline and Rose Tohanczyn, of Hope; great-grandchildren Isabella Bean and Jennifer Bean, of Manhattan, Kansas; sisters-in-law Shirley Tohanczyn, and Edna Tohanczyn; out-laws Arlene Tschop and Barbara Wines; and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Peter, Leonard, and Edward; sister-in-law Betty Tohanczyn; son-in-law, Frederick Riehm; and his former wife, Vivian Tohanczyn. Per John’s wishes, he will be cremated and a private ceremony will be held in April at the family burial site, Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the USO or the Wounded Warriors Project.