John A. Hricsina
September 29, 1937 ~ July 21, 2015
Born in: Cranberry, Pennsylvania
John A. Hricsina, Sr., 77, of Franklin passed away on Tuesday, July 21st at 3:17 a.m. at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.Born September 29th, 1937 in Cranberry, John was the son of the late John Hricsina and Helen Moyer Hricsina. On July 15, 1960, John married his loving wife and number one fan, Susan A. Keller, who survives.John was a 1955 graduate of Cranberry High School. After high school, John joined the U.S. Navy where he became a Navy Seabee. He was a Korean War Era Veteran and took part of Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. During his time in Antarctica, John earned a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame for hitting the longest ball in the coldest game. John was involved in many activities, particularly bowling. He was a PBA Senior Bowler; the 1990 Bowler of the Year; was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Bowling Hall of Fame, as well as the Erie, Crawford, and Venango County Halls of Fame; won 7 senior titles; enjoyed his time on the Professional Bowling Tour; and loved bowling with his sons and grandsons.In his younger years, John drove stock cars and played softball in Franklin. He also loved singing karaoke and spending time with his family. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.In addition to his wife, John is survived by his son, John A. Hricsina, Jr., and his wife, Wendy, of Las Vegas, Nevada; his son, William R. Hricsina, and his wife, Deborah, of Franklin; his daughter, Saundra L. Hricsina, of Franklin; and his daughter, Valerie S. Hijar, and her husband, Michael, of Las Vegas, Nevada.Additionally, John is survived by eight grandchildren; Jacquelyn Redenz, of Erie; Nicholas J. Hricsina of Franklin; William Hricsina II of Franklin; Nathan Hricsina of Franklin; Jordan Hijar of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jessica Hricsina of Franklin; Brooke Hijar of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Chandler Hricsina of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also survived by a great-grandchild, Gabe Redenz of Erie.In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brothers, Joe and Jim Hricsina; and his sister, Janet Fleming.At John's request, there will be no public viewing, however a memorial services will be held on Friday, July 24th at 1:00 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 393 Pone Lane, Franklin with Rev. David Smith officiating.The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Kirtland Cancer Foundation, PO Box 108, Franklin, PA 16323. The family wishes to thank Dr. Kirtland and his staff for the excellent care they provided.To send online condolences, cards, flowers, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
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My Heart is saddened to learn of John’s passing he was a wonderful guy So Loving and Caring..
susan, so sorry to hear of johns passing my thoughts are with you & your family. joyce ion
Susan, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. John was a great guy and I know how strong your marriage and life was with John. May God bless and keep you and your family through these next days. Kathy Rogers Bailey.
To are deepest sympathy to Sue and the Hricsina family from the Morrison family in Niles Ohio
I am so sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
I’m so sad to get this news. John was such a great guy to be around. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. My most sincere condolences to Sue, John Jr, Bill, Sandy, Val, and the entire Hricsina family.
RJ Alman, Murrysville, PA
To the family and friends of Mr Hricsina: We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Cast all your cares to Him, our Heavenly Father, for he cares for you.
Bob and Susan Bidell
(nee Susan Gatesman)
Phoenix AZ
Started bowling early in life, had fun bowling with him, John Jr and Billy. He drilled my very first bowling ball. Columbia white dot. Great talent and a lot of wisdom. Sad day for me. Rest in peace BIG JOHN….
Susan and family: I was so sorry to hear of John’s passing. I remember him as our mailman. Such a nice guy. My deepest sympathy.
Sandy Cotterman (Jackie Pattons Mom)
So sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers with you all. Love Randy, Rhonda, Patrick, and Cameron
Jim n I would like to thank John for all the kind things he has done for us. Great mail man. We send our condolences to his family and friends. God rest his him.
Bill & Family. Thoughts & prayers are with you. God Bless, Mary-Ada
My deepest sympathies to the Hricsina Family. I used to watch John bowl on TV. He was so good, it was amazing. I watched him bowl in person a couple times too when I was lucky enough to attend a PBA Senior Tour tournament. He was great guy. The professional bowling world definitely misses him.
Jim Pickering, Shiloh IL
May God’s love and the love of family and friends give you all strength and peace. God Bless Floyd and Debbie Dunlap
John, Sorry for your loss. I will be praying for you and your family. Take care of yourself.
Ron Vogus
Susan, Bill, Deb, Sandy and family,
Please know that so many prayers have been lifted up in these past months for John and all of your family. We are so very sorry for your loss. We know that John – a wonderful husband, father and grandfather – was loved more than words can say. We’ll continue to pray that God will comfort and keep all of you in his care during this very difficult time. God bless you all.
Ted & Gretchen Johnson
We will be keeping the family and friends of John Hricsina in our thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately we are on a trip to South Carolina and will not be able to attend the memorial.
God Bl;ess and Keep You,
Lou, Susan and Bethany Slautterback
I will miss BIG JOHN. In a life time you meet people that have a special place in your heart John is one of those people. When I first met John it was like he knew me all his life. I was thinking of John the other day I was reading the five great bowlers that signed one of my PBA shirts, two of those gentlemen have left us for a better place, Big John and Dick. God bless the Hricsina flamily.. I will miss you John. RIP.
Best wishes and regards to the family and close friends of Mr. John Hricsina. He was such a pleasure to be around as he was always in a good mood, laughing and carrying on with everyone on the PBA Tour even while competing against the best in our sport. And what a talented and gifted athlete. What an amazing person. RIP John.
So sorry about John’s passing..Bill always had the best time talking with him..He will be missed very much..Bill and Cheryl Bacher
To my ol’ doubles partner! John you were one of toughest competitors I’ve ever met. It was an honor to bowl with you a couple times in the PBA Senior/PBA Touring Pro Doubles back in the day. But it was even more of honor to call you my friend! You’ll always be one of the best! Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Hricsina family, through this difficult time. Mike and Samantha Edwards, Tulsa, Oklahoma
To the Hricsina Family:
We offer our condolences – Mr. Hricsina was a gentleman. So sorry to hear of his passing.
From the Kline family of Meadville Pike
John was the most humble Sr. PBA Champion bowler that we met in our 10 years on the tour, and we always enjoyed his singing “The Auctioneer” doing karaoke after bowling.
Bernie & Cyrilla Carlisle
Sue and family I am so sorry for your loss. John will be missed. He was one off a kind. I asked him once what a Seabee was, that’s when he told me the story of when he played ball in the Antartica. He always made the Christmas party’s at the bowling ally so mush fun. He would throw the ball so may differant way, so that people like me would have a chance of wining, he always out bowled me. He will be greatly missed. My prays and thoughts are with you.
Amy and I pass along our condolences to Susan, Sandy, Bill, John, Valerie, Nick and their families. Our prayers are with you.
John was one of the first bowlers I met when I first started bowling on the Sr. Tour. John became my friend and a bowler I admired. A great bowler and a better man. What else can I say other than he is missed by many, many friends and family. RIP my friend.
Sorry to hear of the loss of John. Great guy and and bowler. Deepest sympathy and condolences to Sue and the whole Hricsina Sr family Tom Lovely Pgh Pa
Kerry Hricsina
We just heard about John and we are so very sorry for your loss. John was a great person and John and you have always been kind to our family. My wife Karen, my son and his wife Scott and Amy as well as my stepdaughter and her husband Ashley and Dustin, send our deepest sympathy. I know he will be greatly missed by many.
so sorry for your loss. you will be in our prayers. sorry we didn’t get to the funeral, we would have liked to see you all.
Rocky and Jeanne Burgert