Obituary of John A. Seekins

John A Seekins, 89, of Jamestown, died at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing. He was born June 18, 1924 in North Harmony, one of eleven children of the late Alvin and Mary Croghan Seekins. John was a graduate of Frewsburg High School and had attended Texas A&M University, Syracuse University and the University of Illinois. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving from 1943 until 1946, and was the recipient of three bronze stars, a silver star and a Purple Heart. John had owned Lakeview Gardens Florist for many years, retiring in 1986. He belonged to Holy Apostles Parish, Saints Peter & Paul Church where he had served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the St. Vincent Depaul Society. He also belonged to the AMVETS and the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. John was an avid fisherman, both freshwater and saltwater, and also enjoyed hunting. A devoted husband and father, his family will remember him as a loving, kind and generous man. Surviving are two daughters, Mary (Vic) Marcum and Julianne Baraniewicz, both of Jamestown; four grandchildren: Christopher (Kate) Marcum of Hinckley, OH, Erica (Scott) Schieber of Powell, OH, Adam (Marisela) Baraniewicz of Key West, FL and Alicia (Charles) Kenny of Lutherville, MD; three great-grandchildren, Max and Miles Marcum, and Gavin Schieber; two brothers: Francis (Polly) Seekins of Idaho and Steven (Iza) Seekins of New Hampshire; and two sisters: Katherine (Ed) Sturm of Eden, NY and Jean (Ray) Nelson of Jamestown. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Margaret U. Badhorn, whom he married June 16, 1951 and who died June 8, 2007, as well as three brothers and two sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in Holy Apostles Parish, Saints Peter & Paul Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende will be celebrant. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 4:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent Depaul Society, 508 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701.