Louis John Jakiel

Louis John Jakiel, 88, of Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on the evening on Monday, April 6, 2020. 

Louis was 2nd to the last of 9 children of the late Vincent and Stella Jakiel, born on May 31, 1931 in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania in the midst of the Great Depression. He had 3 brothers and 5 sisters. As a young boy, Louis had a job selling papers under the bridge at Chartiers and Island Avenues.  He was also a pinboy setting up duck pins and ten pins at the bowling alley under the Roxian movie theater in McKees Rocks.

He went to McKees Rocks High School and graduated in the Class of 1950. He walked to school from Chartiers Avenue – about a mile. After high school, Louis and two friends bought a yellow Buick convertible which they enjoying riding around town.

After graduation, he worked at Kolinsky grocery store on Chartiers Avenue. This is where he first set eyes on the love of his life, Elizabeth Zelazny.  Three years younger than him, she was attending Stowe Township High School, the long standing rival of McKees Rocks High School. They went to Elizabeth’s high school prom together in 1952.

In October that year, Louis was inducted into the Army, where he proudly served 16 months in Korea during the Korean War. He was on the front lines for his birthday on May 29, 1953 providing U.S. Artillery support to United Nations forces during the third Battle of the Hook.

Louis was honorably discharged from the Army in September 1954 and married Elizabeth a year later on August 27, 1955. For a time, Louis worked at Ace Hardware Store on Beverly Road in Mount Lebanon. He lost his wedding ring while doing inventory and found it a year later (while doing inventory) in a barrel of screws. He introduced his family to nearby Beto’s Pizza – still a family favorite.

He began working for the U.S. Postal Service in 1961 at one of the cargo buildings at the old Greater Pittsburgh Airport, retrieving mail and loading it onto airplanes. One of the perks of working in this location was watching up close the arrivals of planes transporting the famous Pittsburgh Steelers of the 70s as they disembarked near his cargo building. 

Louis retired in 1986 after more than 25 years with the Postal Service and began to enjoy a simple life with his family and his many grandchildren. He made his television debut as “Tinker” on WTAE’s Bowling for Dollars with Nick Perry. He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates, building puzzles, and stocking his shelves with deals through couponing. You could hear him whistling throughout the day when all was good in the world. His most favorite activity was sitting on his front porch swing with is beloved wife Elizabeth by his side.

Together from their home in Kennedy Township, they raised 5 children, Carolyn (Richard) Weaver, Robert (Michele), Thomas (Julie), Donald (Anette) and Amy (Martin) Durkin. Louis was the cherished “Pop Pop” to his 17 grandchildren: Matthew, Sara, Andy and the late Jessica Weaver, Steve (Amanda) and Ryan Jakiel, Samantha and Lara Jakiel, Caleb (Victoria), Carli (Christian Ryan), Courtney, Colin Jakiel, and Thomas and Emily Durkin. He welcomed his first great-grandson, Asher Kiro Ryan in November 2019. His advice to all of us was to “take your time” and he ended every visit, phone call, or conversation with anyone with the words “God bless you!”

A private viewing and blessing service will be held for the immediate family. Interment at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. A Celebration of Life mass at St. Malachy Church and military funeral honors will be planned at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org to support research toward ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Since you cannot join us for a visitation, please express your sympathies through our family online guest book at https://www.musmannofh.com/obituary/Louis-Jakiel.

Thank you all for your love and support,

The Family of Louis and Elizabeth Jakiel

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Louis John Jakiel, please visit our floral store.