John Chuk, Jr.

John Chuk Jr.
John Chuk Jr., age 93, died peacefully on August 24, 2012 at the US Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN, surrounded by family, friends and a wonderful compassionate nursing staff.  He was born in Balkan Township, MN, the son of John and Frances (Kozar) on June 30, 1919. He attended Balkan, Chisholm and Hibbing Schools.  At age 15 he operated a confectionary store in Hibbing’s Brooklyn addition.  He worked in Northern Minnesota CC Camps and in October 1939, enlisted in the US Army.  He served in Austria, France and Germany with Company 1, 3rd Infantry Rainbow Division.  Military awards included a silver star, purple heart and 2 bronze stars.  He was married in 1946 to Juanita (Jackie) Yarborough in Chicago, IL where he attended Tilden Tech High School, studying carpentry and cabinet making.  His work as a carpenter included employment with Bechtel on the  taconite plant in Keewatin, MN, operating the JC Cabinet Shop and as a superintendant for Max Gray Construction.  Troubled by his war experiences, he began to search the Bible to find answers.  He could not reconcile fighting in Austria, killing his own cousins of the same faith.  He felt compelled to understand why religion didn’t make a bigger difference.  His search led him to dedicate his life to God, becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Sept. 26, 1954.  He served as a congregation overseer, and a full time volunteer minister in Minnesota and South Carolina congregations.  In 1985 Jackie died suddenly and he relocated to the Greer congregation in South Carolina.  He married Laura Britt of Greer in 1993.  His volunteer work included disaster relief construction in Jamaica after hurricane Gilbert in 1998.  Twice he traveled to Honduras to build Kingdom Halls.  He loved music and played the button box accordion.  He loved working with wood.  He always had a sweet tooth.  He was a motivated energetic man who valued teaching people about the Bible’s hope for God’s kingdom to rule and bring peace to mankind.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years Laura Britt of Taylors, SC., a daughter Cynthia (Jon) Mathews  of Hibbing, two sons in Balkan, James (Lucy Sardo) and John (Kathy Clemens), and a son Timothy (Michele Luppa) of Hibbing, five grandchildren; Dawn (John) Palmer, Nehemiah and Michael and Cyrie (Joshua) Brom and Paul (Amy) Chuk, 4 great grandchildren Alysia (Shane) Loiland, Genevieve and Guilietta Palmer and Hayden Mathews, a brother Robert (Maria Cruz Ramos) Chuk, a sister Cecilia Kirkpatrick and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, 5 sisters; infant Helen, Frances Pilkington, Margie Jonett, Evelyn Vitrano, and Mary Jane Christianson and 3 brothers; Louis, Joseph and Richard.
A memorial service will be at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hibbing, on Sat., Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. with John Palmer officiating.
To sign the on line guestbook please see www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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