Obituary of Joseph John Margalis

Joseph J. Margalis, 88, of the Miners-Mills section of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the River Street Manor Nursing Home, Wilkes-Barre. Born in Miners-Mills, Joe was the son of the late Joseph and Cassie (Letinski) Margalis and a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School and Penn State University. An engineer, Joe worked on a variety of military projects., including the Mercury Mission Space Vehicle at Melpar Inc., in Falls Church, Virginia. Joe served his country proudly in the United States Navy during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Destroyer Forest B. Royal. He received the U.S. Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, among others. A current member of Saints Peter and Paul Church, his service to the Roman Catholic church community was life long. He was a lifelong member of the St. Francis Holy Name Society and chairperson of the annual Bazaar for many years. His community service extended to many local, state, and national organizations with a specific interest in handicapped accessibility and recreational services. These contributions included providing handicapped accessibility at many local public buildings and parks. Joe served on many boards and was lauded for his many accomplishments and dedication. Joe was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Cassie(Letinski) Margalis, his brothers Bernard, Francis, and John; sister-in-law Nancy Margalis, and nephew Francis Margalis Jr. He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Margaret B. (Monko) Margalis, daughter Susan Perlis and her husband Joseph of Swedesboro, NJ; son Joseph and wife Elizabeth Schur of Wilkes-Barre; daughter Andrea Stackhouse and husband Kenny of West Pittston. Joe is survived by four grandchildren: Joseph and Andrew Perlis and Haley and Shelby Stackhouse, brother Robert Margolis and wife Vicki, sister-in-law Jean Margalis, nieces and nephews. Anyone who knew Joe remembers his accident in 1966 that would have challenged anyone. Joe’s courage and conviction to overcome this adversity resulted in a life well-lived and celebrated by everyone who knew him and benefited from his initiatives. His dedication to the development of others did not stop at death. Joe donated his body to the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania through the Humanity Gifts Registry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A Mass to Celebrate Joe’s life will be held on April 21, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. in Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hudson Road, Plains. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Jack Lambert. Mass will include Military Honors by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be held prior to Mass from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the wonderful, caring staff at River Street Manor and the compassionate nursing staff of Erwine Home Health Care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be given to the Wyoming Valley Children's Association, 1133 Wyoming Avenue, Forty-Fort, Pa, 18704. To send online condolences to the family or for directions to service, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.