John J. Sherosick

John J. Sherosick, 92, of Browndale, Pa., formerly of Montoursville, a retired Pennsylvania State Police Corporal, master gardener and Super Grandpa, died peacefully Monday, June 27, 2022, at UPMC Lock Haven Hospital. John was preceded in death by his wife, the former Clara H. Slavinski, who died May 3, 2014.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late John and Josephine Laurich Sherosick, he was a devoted member of Ascension Parish, Forest City, and a graduate of Forest City High School. Upon graduation, John enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1948. After basic training, he was sent to the military post at the Presidio in San Francisco, where he served under World War II Army Gen. Mark Clark. John then was sent overseas to work at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, where he served during the outbreak of the Korean War. Upon honorable discharge in December 1952, John came home and joined the Pennsylvania State Police in May 1954. After graduating from the PSP Academy at Hershey, he was stationed to Troop F at Montoursville. During much of his career, Cpl. Sherosick worked mainly on patrol, but also did criminal investigations and served as a fire marshal in various counties in North Central Pa. He earned commendations, including for helping to save a young man from drowning during the 1972 Agnes floods. He was the first emergency responder airlifted into the sight of the Allegheny Airlines crash in December 1959 on the mountainside near Williamsport Regional Airport. But John did not talk about his service. Instead, he talked about the many wonderful people he met and befriended as he patrolled the valleys and mountains of the region. From farmers to restaurateurs to business owners to travelers, John developed and maintained cherished friendships from his encounters throughout his lifetime. He stayed in touch with many through cards, phone calls and visits.

He retired from the state police in July 1986 and moved from Montoursville back to his beloved home town of Browndale in southwestern Wayne County. John was a superb vegetable gardener, canner and juicer – and cook. He grew everything from potatoes to cauliflower to tomatoes to escarole and loved to pick and can wild popinki mushrooms. In fact, he canned most everything he grew and shared his bounty with family and friends.

John had a great wit and humor. He could’ve been a standup comic.

He and Clara also loved to travel and loved Polka music. They could be found at many Polka dances and Oktoberfests in northeastern Pennsylvania.

When Clara suffered a debilitating stroke in 2007, John lovingly took care of her every need until she passed in 2014. Their devotion to each other was moving.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Bob Rolley of Woodward Township; a granddaughter and her husband, Katelyn and Josh Bausch of Levittown; two sisters, Claire Sterchak of Sidney, N.Y., and Marion “Mitzi” Kiselica of Kirkville, N.Y.; nieces and nephews and two wonderful cousins, Tony and Sandy Ravnikar.

We believe John left this earth now so he could be guardian to his soon-to-be-born great-granddaughter, Ella Grace.

As his family and friends often said, John represented the Greatest Generation with his no-nonsense attitude, strong work ethic, decency and morals – the kind of people we need more of today.

The funeral will be Wednesday, July 6, with a Blessing Service at noon in the Jones & Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main St., Forest City. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Forest City. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 11 am until service time.

To honor John, hug your family, have a beer or a Manhattan cocktail, and try to enjoy life.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John J. Sherosick, please visit our floral store.