Alvan ‘Eugene’ Sallack, of Silver Creek Road, Johnsonburg, PA and Guy and Mary Felt Manor, Emporium, PA, entered eternal rest on September 30, 2024 after a courageous battle with Parkinsons Disease. His death at 88 years young culminates an industrious and joyous life of devotion and service to his family and larger community.
Eugene was born November 13, 1935 to H. Alvan and Esther Gray Sallack in Johnsonburg, PA. He was a 1953 graduate of Johnsonburg High School. He pursued his higher education at Penn State and was a proud member of the Penn State Blue Band (playing the Baritone). Gene graduated in 1957with a BS degree in Mathematics. Following college where he was in the ROTC he enlisted into the United States Army and also served in the Army National Guard.
On April 7, 1962 at St. John Lutheran Church in Johnsonburg he married the love of his life, Donna Rae Walters who preceded him in death on November 20, 2016. Their union produced the following five children and extended family: Renee (Bill) Blankenship, Loren Sallack, Dawn (Lou) Karellas, Alvan (Dawn) Sallack all of Johnsonburg and David (Trista) Sallack of Wilcox; Grandchildren: Kerri (Dave) Shaffer, Ashley (Ted) Polinski, Cassie (Scott) Rockwell, Travis (Austin) Lencer, Hunter Sallack, Louie Karellas, Kiersten Sallack, David Sallack, Lexi (Justin) Haupright, MacKenzie Sallack, Jennifer (Josh) Reed and Scott Sallack; Great-Grandchildren: Nolan and Wyatt Shaffer, Jordan Polinski, Aubrey and Emmett Rockwell and Ella and Elsie Reed; Surviving also is a brother, O. Lorraine Sallack; In-Laws: Kim Walters, Dan (Carol) Walters, Floyd Walters and Kasumi Walters.
Not one to “let grass grow under his feet”, Eugene’s employment through the years included: Brockway Glass, Brockway, PA. Math teacher at Cameron County High School, Emporium PA for 40 years (retiring in 2004). In earlier years he also worked in the woods and was co-owner of Sallack Logging.
He spent a lifetime serving and mentoring the youth of his community, and his legacy will be well known for generations to come, due to his expertise and devotion to the following Drum and Bugle Corps including: Yellow Jackets, Red Rockets (instructor), Brockway Lancers (instructor), Johnsonburg Diplomats (original board member), 84th Bucktail Regiment of Emporium (instructor), and the Grey Knights Drum & Bugle Corps (original board member, instructor). There wasn’t an instrument that Eugene could not play with proficiency, and he took time and care instructing each section.
In addition to his local acclaim as a Drum Corps leader and instructor, Eugene will also be long remembered for his dedication to area youth as a wrestling coach. He coached Junior Olympics in Johnsonburg for 22 years, served as Assistant Jr. High coach at Cameron County for 8 years, and was inducted into the District IX Hall of Fame of Wrestling for Coaching earlier this year. He also took time to serve the youth of the community by acting as a Johnsonburg Knothole Baseball coach and board member for many years
Gene was a lifetime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Johnsonburg, attending Sunday School with 52 years of Perfect Attendance. He also took care of the St John Lutheran Cemetery at Wardvale for a number of years.
Besides his wife and parents, Eugene is preceded in death by his sister Charmaine LaRock, and in-laws: Daneen Walters, Patty Walters, Joe LaRock, Don Walters and Sally Sallack.
Services will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 325 Church Street, Johnsonburg, with the Johnsonburg/Ridgway Servicemen and Reverend Kevin Schafer. There will be a Celebration of his life following at the Johnsonburg Fire Department Social Hall on Clarion Road, Johnsonburg.
Memorial donations may be made to: St. John Lutheran Church, 325 Church Street, Johnsonburg, PA 15845; The Grey Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, 450 W. Theresia Rd., St.Marys, PA 15857 or the Guy and Mary Felt Manor, 110 East 4th Street, Emporium, PA 15834
Online condolences will be welcomed at the Ubel Funeral Home website (www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com).
I have good memories of Mr. Sallack as my Algebra teacher at CCHS.
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