Joseph A. Royko

Joseph A. Royko, 85 of Bethlehem, died on Monday Jan. 12th at VNA Hospice at St. Luke's in Lower Saucon Township. Born in Bethlehem, he is the son of the late Anthony and Fannie Ballek Royko.

After graduating from Liberty High School, Bethlehem in 1941, Joseph joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served on the SS. Lee in the Pacific Theatre during WW II.

He worked for the Bethlehem Steel Co. for 42 years retiring in 1982 as a millright.

Joseph was a member of St. John's Windish Lutheran Church for most of his life.

He was a member of Lehigh University South Side Boosters, The First Windish Fraternal Benefit Society and Tin Can Sailors Organization.

He enjoyed football and baseball and especially the Detroit Tigers and spent many evenings bowling at the Bethlehem Panthers.

He will be dearly missed by his companion, Evelyn Malozi, his daughter, Mary Margaret Stefchak, and his sister, Mary, wife of Dr. John Marini, all of Bethlehem.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Gaskaska who died in 1957 and his second wife, Pat Orlando who died in 1993.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 2 p.m. at St. John's Windish Lutheran Church 617 East Fourth St. Bethlehem, PA 18015. Visitation will be from 1-1:45 p.m. at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Connell Funeral Home, Inc., Bethlehem.

Memorials may be made in Joseph's memory, to the church or to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.