Patriot, family man, best friend.
First Sgt. Joseph Anistranski of Hanover Twp. died unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at the age of 84, while fishing in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late John and Frances D'nistransky and one of nine siblings.
Joe left Coughlin High School at the age of 16 to begin his life service to his state and country with the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. A survivor of the 1950 109th FA train crash in Ohio, in which death befell 33 soldiers, including his best friend, he always felt blessed by God to have been spared his life.
Throughout his 40-plus years with the 109th, 1st Sgt. Anistranski was always looking out for his troops, and numerous soldiers were influenced by "Top" during their service together.
He was a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, Hanover Twp. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge Number 61, Wilkes-Barre.
Joe married Betty Graziano in July 1956, and they spent their 58 years of marriage together, devoted to their family. He was always proud of his children, but "Pop Pop" was most proud of his six grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty; brother, John; and sisters, Anne, Nellie, Mary, Catherine (Jean) and Helen.
Surviving are his two brothers, Col. Basil (Charles) and George; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Anistranski and husband, Sean Keller, Pittsburgh; son, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski and wife, Maureen, Forty Fort; and his six grandchildren, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski Jr., Jarrett Anistranski and wife, Kellen; Blake Keller, John Anistranski, Maura Anistranski and Brandon Keller.
Family and friends are asked to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hugh B. Hughes and Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, 143 Division St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Richard J. Cirba officiating. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church.
The interment will be private in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
First Sgt. Joseph Anistranski of Hanover Twp. died unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at the age of 84, while fishing in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late John and Frances D'nistransky and one of nine siblings.
Joe left Coughlin High School at the age of 16 to begin his life service to his state and country with the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. A survivor of the 1950 109th FA train crash in Ohio, in which death befell 33 soldiers, including his best friend, he always felt blessed by God to have been spared his life.
Throughout his 40-plus years with the 109th, 1st Sgt. Anistranski was always looking out for his troops, and numerous soldiers were influenced by "Top" during their service together.
He was a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, Hanover Twp. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge Number 61, Wilkes-Barre.
Joe married Betty Graziano in July 1956, and they spent their 58 years of marriage together, devoted to their family. He was always proud of his children, but "Pop Pop" was most proud of his six grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty; brother, John; and sisters, Anne, Nellie, Mary, Catherine (Jean) and Helen.
Surviving are his two brothers, Col. Basil (Charles) and George; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Anistranski and husband, Sean Keller, Pittsburgh; son, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski and wife, Maureen, Forty Fort; and his six grandchildren, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski Jr., Jarrett Anistranski and wife, Kellen; Blake Keller, John Anistranski, Maura Anistranski and Brandon Keller.
Family and friends are asked to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hugh B. Hughes and Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, 143 Division St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Richard J. Cirba officiating. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church.
The interment will be private in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
Patriot, family man, best friend.
First Sgt. Joseph Anistranski of Hanover Twp. died unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at the age of 84, while fishing in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late John and Frances D'nistransky and one of nine siblings.
Joe left Coughlin High School at the age of 16 to begin his life service to his state and country with the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. A survivor of the 1950 109th FA train crash in Ohio, in which death befell 33 soldiers, including his best friend, he always felt blessed by God to have been spared his life.
Throughout his 40-plus years with the 109th, 1st Sgt. Anistranski was always looking out for his troops, and numerous soldiers were influenced by "Top" during their service together.
He was a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, Hanover Twp. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge Number 61, Wilkes-Barre.
Joe married Betty Graziano in July 1956, and they spent their 58 years of marriage together, devoted to their family. He was always proud of his children, but "Pop Pop" was most proud of his six grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty; brother, John; and sisters, Anne, Nellie, Mary, Catherine (Jean) and Helen.
Surviving are his two brothers, Col. Basil (Charles) and George; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Anistranski and husband, Sean Keller, Pittsburgh; son, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski and wife, Maureen, Forty Fort; and his six grandchildren, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski Jr., Jarrett Anistranski and wife, Kellen; Blake Keller, John Anistranski, Maura Anistranski and Brandon Keller.
Family and friends are asked to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hugh B. Hughes and Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, 143 Division St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Richard J. Cirba officiating. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church.
The interment will be private in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
First Sgt. Joseph Anistranski of Hanover Twp. died unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at the age of 84, while fishing in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late John and Frances D'nistransky and one of nine siblings.
Joe left Coughlin High School at the age of 16 to begin his life service to his state and country with the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. A survivor of the 1950 109th FA train crash in Ohio, in which death befell 33 soldiers, including his best friend, he always felt blessed by God to have been spared his life.
Throughout his 40-plus years with the 109th, 1st Sgt. Anistranski was always looking out for his troops, and numerous soldiers were influenced by "Top" during their service together.
He was a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, Hanover Twp. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge Number 61, Wilkes-Barre.
Joe married Betty Graziano in July 1956, and they spent their 58 years of marriage together, devoted to their family. He was always proud of his children, but "Pop Pop" was most proud of his six grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty; brother, John; and sisters, Anne, Nellie, Mary, Catherine (Jean) and Helen.
Surviving are his two brothers, Col. Basil (Charles) and George; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Anistranski and husband, Sean Keller, Pittsburgh; son, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski and wife, Maureen, Forty Fort; and his six grandchildren, Dr. Joseph A. Anistranski Jr., Jarrett Anistranski and wife, Kellen; Blake Keller, John Anistranski, Maura Anistranski and Brandon Keller.
Family and friends are asked to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hugh B. Hughes and Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, 143 Division St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Richard J. Cirba officiating. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church.
The interment will be private in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
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