John J. Kania

John J. Kania


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — John Joseph Kania, 85, of West Palm Beach, Florida and formerly of Custar, Ohio, died Thursday afternoon, July 16, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He was born April 20, 1924 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Walter and Stella (Ratajczak) Kania. In February of 1945 he married Rosemary Sturtz and she preceded him in death in 1969. On December 11, 1970 he married Wilma (Cox) Saunders at St. Louis Catholic Church, Custar and she survives.
John served in the Marine Corps during World War II in the Mariana Islands on Saipan and Tinian and the Marshal Islands on Roi-Namur. He was wounded twice and received two purple hearts.
He worked as a brick mason and farmer. He was a member of St. John Fisher Catholic Church, West Palm Beach, Florida; St. Louis Catholic Church, Custar; Knights of Columbus, 3rd & 4th Degree; life member of VFW; Elks and DAV. He was a member of the Norcross-Meyers American Legion Post #305, Custar for over 62 years. John always enjoyed golfing and was a past member of the Bowling Green Country Club.
John is survived by a daughter, Rosanne (Thomas) Tussing; four sons, David (Patricia) Kania; Dennis (Lois) Kania; Steven (Deborah) Kania and Thomas (Sheri) Kania; three stepsons, Paul (Sandra) Saunders; Ronald (Carmen) Saunders; Dan R. (Barbara) Saunders; 8 grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Dorothy Morris and Lou Ann Forche.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Custar. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Custar.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Rodenberger Funeral Home, Deshler, Ohio where a Scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
The family suggests memorials be given to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences can be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com.