John Joseph Bahnak, 91, of Flat Rock, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at Pardee Hospital.
He was born in Belt, MT, and was a former resident of Great Falls and Rainbow Dam, MT, Minneapolis, MN and Lincolnshire, IL. He was a graduate of the University of MN. He served his country in the US Army during WWII as First Lieutenant with the 568th Artillery Battalion in the European Theatre. He was Graves Registration Officer for his unit. The Battalion participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Rhineland Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He had been employed with GTE-Verizon and was a past Grand Knight Hennepin with the Minneapolis Council 4735 Knights of Columbus. He was a member of Henderson County VFW Post 5206, American Legion Post 77, U of MN Alumni Association and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Preceding him in death are his wife of 65 years, Val who died in 2009; two sons, Bruce who died in 1992 and John Jr. who died in 1994.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Donna; a grandson, Jason and his wife Susanne and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday January 11, 2012 in the chapel at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Memorials can be sent to: The Free Clinic 841 Case St Hendersonville, NC 28792.
The staff of Community Foundation of Henderson County extends our deepest sympathy to the Bahnak family on the passing of John Bahnak.