Frederick A. "Fred" Kaneck Sr.

Frederick (Fred) A. Kaneck Sr. was taken from this world before we were ready to let him go on Monday December 14, at the young age of 84.

Fred was born August 21, 1936 in Cleveland, OH to Frank Kaneck and Matilda (Tillie) Kralic Johnson. After serving his country in the Air Force stationed in Japan during the Korean War, Fred settled in New Brighton and began work at the New Brighton post office where he spent 33 years as the “Friendly Mail Carrier”. It was at the New Brighton General Hospital where he brought his friend in for treatment that he met the love of his life, Margaret (Peggy) Kaneck and four months later were married and were inseparable for 56 years. 

Together they had Janine (John) Sabella Sr., Fred (Lisa) Kaneck, Jr., Chris (Jackie) Kaneck and Shelly (Randy) Raymond.  They in turn provided him with grandchildren, John (Lori) Sabella Jr., Anthony Sabella, Chris W. Kaneck, Michaella (Tyler) Morrison, Renee Raymond and Adam Depew, Rayne Raymond, Rory Raymond, Jessicca Kaneck, Faith Kaneck, Bryan Kaneck, Joshua Kaneck and Alisa Kaneck, who then provided great-grandchildren, Anastasia (Jacob) Straub, Lydia Devorick and Maddox Morrison and several step-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brother James C. Johnson. 

The greeting party who met him in heaven are his parents, his sister Carol Kaneck and his special partners in crime his Uncle Fred (Fritz) and Aunt Rose Jack. 

Fred was one of the founding members of Daughtery Township Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, President and Treasurer. He was one of the original cooks in the catering kitchen of Daughterty Fire Hall, also known as “Fred’s Kitchen”. He helped start the annual Mother’s Day chicken dinners and catered weddings. His children’s best memories growing up were working with Fred in the kitchen rolling “pigs in the blanket”, cutting ice cream for Mother’s Day and generally doing whatever he told them to do.  

After his retirement at the post office, his real careers began with a job as a greeter at Gabauer Funeral Home, car shuttler with Avis and then eventually as lot manager at Butler Auto Auction, where he retired after a decade of enjoyable employment. With his second retirement, Fred and Peggy travelled across the United States, visited Europe and did whatever they wanted. 

Family was the most important thing to Fred and he loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of each of them, but the love of his life was Peggy, who will miss him every moment of her days. 

A private viewing for the family will be held with a public service to be held outdoors at Christ Anglican Church, 1221 Third Avenue New Brighton on Saturday December 19 at 11:00AM.  In lieu of flowers, the family ask for donations in Fred’s name to the Daugherty Township Volunteer Fire Department or Christ Anglican Church. Private interment will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Heritage Valley Beaver’s Emergency Room, Floors 2 and 3 and most especially Dr. Sestito and Dr. Zvonar for all of their compassionate care of Fred.

J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc. has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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