Jeannette man remembered for time in service

When Linda Reddy was growing up with her brother, Louis Chishko Jr., she would spend hours with him while he worked on cars.

“When I was little and he would be working on a vehicle or something in the years before he went to the Navy, I was always right there beside him,” Reddy said. “If he was under the car, I was under the car.”

Chishko carried his passion for working on vehicles into the Navy, where he spent 20 years as an aircraft mechanic, living in Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia and serving in the Korean War, his son Kim said. His father enlisted in 1947 and served until 1967.

Mr. Louis B. Chishko Jr., 90, of Jeannette, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at his home.

Born in Jeannette April 15, 1929, he was the son of Louis B. Sr. and Evelyn Seigfried Chishko.

Growing up, Mr. Chishko spent time with Reddy despite a 20-year age difference. Reddy remembered when they would go for rides on his Harley motorcycle — something he always had — when they were younger.

“He was a funny guy,” Reddy said. “Anytime you said anything, he always had a smart, funny reply back.”

After discharging from the military, Mr. Chishko moved back to Jeannette to be around family, spending time at Marian Hall in Crabtree, playing bingo and talking to the ladies while enjoying being out in the community. Reddy noted that her brother used to play bingo every night of the week.

He was also an avid lottery player and enjoyed camping and fishing.

Mr. Chishko cared for his first wife, Bertha Funk Chishko, who was bedridden after suffering a stroke, according to their son. She died in 1998.

“He would do anything for you,” Kim Chishko said. “He had a heart of gold.”

Mr. Chishko also is preceded in death by his second wife, Catherine Lyons Chishko, in 2010. In addition to his son and sister, he is survived by brothers, Donald Chishko of New Jersey; Richard Chishko of Mississippi; and Samuel Chishko of Jeannette.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the John V. Graziano Funeral Home, 228 N. Second St., Jeannette. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev.Chris Livermore officiating. Interment will follow in Jeannette Memorial Park, Penn Township.