John William Mihalik Jr.

JOHN WILLIAM MIHALIK, JR. 08/26/1936 – 03/11/2012 On Sunday, March 11, 2012, John William Mihalik, Jr., passed away at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland of a recent illness. The Beloved Husband of Carol E. Mihalik (nee Leaverton); Loving Father of Robin Ann Black and her husband Joe; Step-Father of Robert Venuto, Jr. and his wife Kimberly, Beth M. Ott and her husband Wayne, Mary Venuto Smith and her husband Daniel. Known to them as “Grandfather”, he was a devoted Grandfather to Megan Black Paul and her husband Joe, and Kathleen Black, Scott Weaver, Jr., Kayla Weaver and Jadyne Ott, Jason and Tony Venuto, and Eric, Lyndzie and Ryan Ratliff; and Great Granddaughter Brooklynn Amelia Paul. John (Buddy) was a loving Brother to Raymond Mihalik, three Sisters, Virginia (Sissy) Gurney and her late husband Ray, Shirley Lorenz and her husband Bob, Linda Collins and her husband Joe. He was predeceased by his wife of 27 years, Mary Patricia (nee Sadler) in 1984. He is the Son of the late John Sr. and Virginia Mihalik (nee Clark). He was also blessed with many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends and an Aunt Mary Cunningham (nee Mihalik) and family of Stratton, Ohio. John was anticipating the birth of his 11th Grandchild - Grandson River Alexander Smith who arrived on March 28, 2012. (17 Days after his passing) He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. A funeral service was held at the Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk On March 16, 2012. Burial was at Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery. Donations may be made to a favorite charity or the local Humane Society/SPCA. John was born in Baltimore City and grew up in the Canton, Fells Point Area. He attended Patterson High School. As a young adult he was into weight lifting competition and boxing. Always employed at a young age, he worked at various part-time positions and was employed with Bethlehem Steel for a short time. Thereafter he began working for Essex Chemical Corp. in Curtis Bay as a Maintenance Mechanic for over 30 years until the company closed. He then became employed with the Johns Hopkins University in the Maintenance Department until he retired. After moving to Pittsville, MD (Ocean City area) he was employed with the Foot Management Co. of Pittsville, and the Holiday Inn in Ocean City, MD. John and Patricia were married in 1957 and moved to Dundalk. A Daughter, Robin was born and they resided on Railway Avenue. During the course of raising Robin they were involved in many activities including attending Majorette Competitions and marching in many parades. Robin and Joe were married and John and Pat became Grandparents in April of 1984 when Granddaughter Megan Lynn was born. John and Pat were married for 27 years until her death in 1984. Robin and Joe presented him with another Granddaughter Kathleen Erin in June of 1993. John remarried and he and Carol resided in Dundalk until moving to the Eastern Shore (Pittsville, MD) in July of 2000. He was a loving Step-Father to her children, Robbie, Beth and Mary and Grandfather to Scott, Kayla, Jadyne, Jason, Tony, Eric, Lyndzie and Ryan. A Great Granddaughter Brooklynn Amelia Paul was born in December of 2009. John and Carol would have been married 27 years in August of this year. John spent many hours attending functions with his Grandchildren including Dance Recitals, Little League Games and other school events. He was very proud of everything they did. An avid gardener, John took pride in tending to the many gardens he would plant in the summer proudly sharing the vegetables with friends and neighbors. John attended Messiah Lutheran Church in Baltimore City as a teen and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Dundalk. He became a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in 1975, a social member of the Dundalk VFW, The Dizzy Pleasure Club, and The East Side Men’s Club in Salisbury, MD. A loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and Friend to All, he will be truly missed.