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John A. Demshak, 85, died of natural causes Oct. 2 at his home in Churchton.

The son of an immigrant Russian coal miner, Mr. Demshak was born Aug. 29, 1920, and reared in Mayfield, Pa. At the age of 17 after graduating from high school, he jumped on a Greyhound bus with no money and headed west to California. He attended aircraft mechanics school during the day and washed dishes in a restaurant at night.

He worked for Pan American World Airways as a ground crew maintenance supervisor. During World War II he went as a civilian to the South Pacific to work on military aircraft.

He retired from Pan Am after 35 years of employment and then worked for the Naval Academy in its heating, ventilation and air conditioning department for 17 years.

He was the widower of Ann Justine Zmesley Demshak and the brother of the late Anna Jubinsky.

Surviving are his wife, Jo Ann Demshak; one daughter, Kathy Ann Demshak of Millersville; one son, Mark John Demshak of Baltimore; one brother, George Suey of Jermyn, Pa.; two sisters, Mary Newark and Helen Bochnovich, both of Mayfield; one stepdaughter, Kim Chaney of Churchton; two stepsons, Wayne Miller of Edgewater and Rudi Miller of Denton; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, with burial in the church Memorial Garden. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Martin's-in-the-Field Day School, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146, or Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

As published in The Capital Newspaper on 10/6/2005