Obituary of John Jacob Blazes

John "Jackie" Jacob Blazes, 86, of the Brookside section of Wilkes-Barre, passed on Saturday, March 11, 2023, while in the care of the Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre Hospital. Born in Wilkes-Barre on December 1, 1936, he was one of two sons of the late William and Marion Ofsenka Blazes. Jack grew up in Brookside and attended Guthrie Elementary School and was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, class of 1954. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed his basic training at Samson Air Force Base, NY. He was transferred to Amarillo, TX, where he attended jet mechanic school. After graduation, John was stationed at Langley, Virginia, Air Force Base, to work on the flight line. After several months, John was then stationed at LADD Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska, serving in the field maintenance squadron until his tour of service was completed. After being honorably discharged he returned home to the Wyoming Valley. John found work in New York City at the Hess & Goldsmith Company. He later left for opportunities in Connecticut, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wyoming, and Mountaintop, PA. John found his lifelong job working for the Tobyhanna Army Depot as a Technical Librarian for thirty-five years until his retirement in 1995. On September 4, 1965, John and his loving bride, the former Marion L. Butch, were married. They celebrated thirty four years together raising their son John B. Blazes. John's greatest hobby was that of his Lionel trains and the layouts that he spent many nights working on. He was a past member of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Wilkes-Barre. John will be remembered as a devout husband, loving father and grandpa. He now joins in heaven his loving parents; and his wife Marion. Surviving are his son John and his wife Amy, Shavertown; grand daughters Ava Grace and Isabella; Shavertown; brother William "Buddy" Blazes, Hagerstown, MD; along with nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation and Mass of Christian Burial to be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains Twp. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the beginning of Mass at 10:00 a.m. Mass will be officiated by Rev. John Lambert, pastor. Interment will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wyoming, with military honors conducted by the United States Air Force. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for John may be given to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas, 66676-8516. Funeral Arrangements have been placed in the care of the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc, Plains Twp.