Michael J. Shampack, 96, a lifelong resident of Swoyersville, peacefully entered into eternal life early Wednesday morning, January 22, 2025, at Highland Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Exeter, where he was a patient for the past two weeks.
He was happily reunited in heaven with his beloved wife of 62 years, Marie Grietzer Shampack, who passed away on September 23, 2013.
Born on May 13, 1928, in Swoyersville, Michael was one of seven children born to the late Michael Shampack and Veronica Foris Shampack.
A United States Army veteran, Michael honorably served his country for two years as a Sergeant during the Korean War, with most of his service time being spent in Germany. He was also a veteran of the Army National Guard of Pennsylvania, honorably serving for six years with the 109th Field Artillery Battalion.
Prior to his retirement in 1992, Michael was employed for 47 years by the former United Pants Factory, Swoyersville, serving many of those years as a manager. After retirement, Michael went back to work part-time in the maintenance department at the former Barber Ford, now Key Ford, Exeter, and as a greeter at Sams Club, Wilkes-Barre.
Michael was a faithful Catholic and a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Church, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville. He was also a proud veteran, holding a life-membership with the American Legion, Andrew Lawrence Post 644, Swoyersville.
To know Michael was to know the immense love he held in his heart for his late wife, Marie. Even after her passing, his heart and mind were still with her, visiting her in the cemetery three times almost every single day. Second to the love he had for his wife was the love and devotion he had for his children and grandchildren – they were his reason for living since Marie’s passing.
Throughout his life, Michael enjoyed golfing and bowling, but most of all, he enjoyed planting and reaping the harvest of his annual vegetable garden. If you did not find him working in his garden, chances were you would find him sitting on his front porch talking to passers by or handing out dog treats to the neighborhood dogs. Michael was, at his core, one of the kindest gentlemen to come from the greatest generation that ever lived.
In addition to his parents, Michael and Veronica, and his wife, Marie, Michael was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Jennifer Shampack Durako; his son-in-law, Robert Crofchick; his brother, Joseph Shampack; and his sisters, Ellen Wolfran, Lois Koval, and Rita Tibus.
Left to cherish his memory are his two children, John Shampack and his wife, Barbara, Plains Township; and Mary Anne Crofchick, Mountaintop; his grandchildren, Kimberly Johnson and her husband, Michael; Erin Crofchick Gryzboski and her husband, Anthony; Matthew Crofchick and his wife, Rhea; Lisa Wilson and her husband, Christian; and Shawn Samsel and his wife, Heidi; his grandson-in-law, Chris Durako; his great-grandchildren, Ryan and Alex Johnson; Jacelyn Durako; Layla Adams; Andy Wilson; Katie Steppe; and Wesley Samsel; his great-great granddaughter, Ziva Lee Rose Steppe; his sisters, Barbara Hanusin, Crestwood, Kentucky; and Faith Yurgatis, Caldwell, New Jersey; as well as generations of nieces and nephews.
Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM, from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, with the Reverend Father John J. Chmil, his Pastor, officiating.
Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Cemetery, Swoyersville, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army.
Family and friends are invited to attend Michael’s viewing which will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
To share a memory of Michael or message of condolence with his family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Michaels’s memory to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, Pennsylvania 18704.
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