O. Jack Gaiser, 94, of Kittanning Pike, Chicora, went to be with the Lord late Thursday afternoon, May 10, 2018 in the Village of Valor at the VA Community Living Center in Butler.
Jack was born in Deegan, near Boyers on April 1, 1924. He was the son of the late Eli O. and Ina F. Rumbaugh Gaiser.
He was a 1941 graduate of Fairview Twp. Karns City High School and a U.S. Marine Corp veteran of World War II, having earned the rank of Corporal, Jack and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations near the end of the war. He was a long time active member of the Dierken Ritzert American Legion Post #642 in Chicora and had served in various offices and was a well-known participant of the post’s funeral honor guard. Jack was an active member of the Karns City United Methodist Church and had served in many offices including trustee, finance committee, Sunday School superintendent, and choir member. He was an avid sports fan and talented bowler, golfer and baseball player. He enjoyed attending many of Karns City Area High School’s sporting events. Jack enjoyed southern gospel music and attending God’s Country, a ministry of the First United Methodist Church in Butler. Jack enjoyed the company of his family, most especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Jack retired in 1986 as a brick layer at Witco Chemical in Petrolia following more than 40 years of service.
Mr. Gaiser was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie P. McCollough Gaiser, whom he married in Karns City on September 16, 1944.
Surviving are four children, Rev. Thomas A. Gaiser and his wife, Charlene, of Cincinnati, OH, James J. Gaiser and his wife, Irene, of Brady’s Bend, Colin M. Gaiser, and Kimberly S. Gaiser, both of Chicora; seven grandchildren, Ryan Gaiser and his wife, Stephanie, of Lexington, KY, Erin Herking and her husband, Robert, of Cincinnati, OH, Jennifer Gaiser of Brady’s Bend, Jarrod Gaiser and his wife, Angie, of Chicora, Nathaniel Gaiser and his wife, Kasey, Daniel Gaiser and his wife, Alicia, all of Butler; Meghan Serafine and her husband, Christopher, of Chicora; eight great grandchildren, Griffin, Finley, and Quinnlyn Herking, Hemi Curry, Harlow Gaiser, Oliver and Abraham Serafine, Nora Gaiser, and Jack was looking forward to the addition of a ninth great grandchild soon; a sister-in-law, Jeanette McCullough of Chicora, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife, Jack was preceded in death by two brothers, Fisk and Donald Gaiser, a sister, Georgetta Kiser, as well as a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Karns City, 128 Main St., Karns City, from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 p.m. Sunday and at the Karns City United Methodist Church, 117 Petrolia St., Karns City, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Monday where a funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Jim Lewis, church pastor, and Jack’s son, the Rev. Thomas A. Gaiser, a retired Methodist pastor, officiating. Military honors will be accorded at the church by the Chicora, East Brady and Brady’s Bend American Legion posts. Interment will be beside his wife at Annandale Cemetery near Boyers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Karns City United Methodist Church, PO Box 89, Karns City, PA 16041. For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.