John A. Vertosick Jr., 82, of Culmerville, West Deer Township, died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at the Alle-Kiski Medical Center, Harrison. Born April 8, 1929, in Harwick, and has lived in West Deer for the past 12 years, living prior to that in Natrona Heights. A 1947 graduate of Springdale High School, John worked at the power plant in Brackenridge and also worked for American Steel and returned to the coal mine where he remained employed in the mining industry working in the Harwick, Russellton and Harmar Mine until he retired in 1992 while working in the Tunnelton Mine. He was a mine mechanic for most of his years in the mines. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and the SNPJ Lodge in Acmetonia. He enjoyed working on cars, gardening, music, reading, fishing, shooting and especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, he also enjoyed going to his summer home at Westfield, N.Y., on Lake Erie and his summer home in Emporium. Survivors include his wife of 12 years, Ramona (Conway) Moretti Vertosick; his children, Robert (Linda) Vertosick, of Greensburg, Kathy (Ralph "Fritz") McClain, of Brackenridge, Ronald (Claudia) Vertosick, Karen (Walter "Jim") Powell, of Brackenridge, Joseph (Stella) Vertosick, of Natrona Heights, Elayne (Ron) Dolny, of Allegheny Township, and Joni (Mark) Yingling, of Brackenridge; his stepchildren, William S. (Teresa) Moretti, Guy C. Moretti, Patti (Michael) Sworden and Jodi L. Moretti, all of West Deer, and Terilea Moretti, of Forward Township; 29 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, nine stepgrandchildren; his brother, Frank (Veronica) Vertosick, of Harrison; and his sister, Irene (Robert) Marmo, of Cheswick. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Josephine (Baluch) Vertosick; his son, John Vertosick; his daughter, Lori Vertosick; and his parents, John A. and Stella (Valla) Vertosick. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the SIWICKI-YANICKO FUNERAL HOME, 23 McKrell Road, Russellton, West Deer, where the services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Harrison Township. View obituary online and leave condolences at www.siwicki-yanickofh.com.

Valley News Dispatch, Tarentum 1/26/2012