Obituary of Walter John Wanek

Walter John Wanek, 67, of Wilkes-Barre, succumbed to his battle with cancer, on Monday, January 18,2016, surrounded by his loving family at his home. Walter was born on August 4, 1948, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was a son to the late Walter and Olga Schlonski Wanek. He grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As a child, Walter was in the boy scouts, Troop 6, and later became a Life Scout like his father did before him. Walter graduated from Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, class of 1966. After graduation, he attended CT, School of Electronics. After Electronics school, Walter joined the United States Coast Guard(USCG), he completed his boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey, then went on to Governors Island, NY, and became a Coast Guard Electronics Instructor. He served on the US Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa, participating in search and rescue. He was part of the USCG for a total of four years during Vietnam. After being honorably discharged from service, Walter was a Field Engineer , Systems Engineer and Senior Programming Analyst with IBM for 19 years. Upon retirement, Walter became a self employed general contractor, retiring in 2013.He and his wife, the former Darylene Stephenson, moved to Pennsylvania in 2014. He enjoyed spending time with the love of his life, his wife of 20 years and she was devoted to him. Walter also loved spending time with his two daughters, step children, his cousin Kimberly Coley and her sons. Walter was a member of the LANI club, NEPA Coast Guard Veterans Association, and the Italian Club, Wilkes-Barre. Walter enjoyed camping with his family, golfing, boating, and just being outdoors in nature. Surviving are his loving wife Darylene, at home; daughters Cheri Wanek, CT; Michelle Coraggio, W-B; step daughters Michelle Mancucci, NY; Maggie Stephenson, NY; and Darylene Mancucci, CT, step son Bobby Mancucci; grandchildren Gabriella, Christopher, Lindsay; J; Mikayla; Brian; Isabella; Dienarra; and Bobby; brother Bruce, CT; and a niece and a nephew. A Celebration of Walter's Life will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016, at the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc, 55 Stark Street, Plains, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. A Reflection service will begin at 7:30pm. On Saturday, at 9:30am, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road. Mass will be officiated by Rev. Jack Lambert. Military honors will be conducted by the USCG at the end of Mass. Friends and family are asked to go directly to church. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family.