John Benko

BENKO, John of Wesley Chapel, Florida passed away Monday, April 6, 2015. He was born in Dover, New Jersey and lived in Succasunna, New Jersey with his family and moved to Wesley Chapel, Florida in June 2009. John worked at the University of South Florida for the past four years. He retired from the United States Postal Service in Rockaway, New Jersey after 34 years of service. He was a United States Navy Veteran and served aboard the USS Apache as a Radio Operator. John was a very kind, loving man. You could always count on him. He had a gentle spirit and always put others before himself, especially his wife and son. John loved to keep his hair long to the detriment of his wife. He loved spending time with his family, going to movies and plays with his wife, having a good draft beer, Diet Dr. Pepper, Hawaii, and listening to rock music. The world was a better place because of John. He will be sorely missed. John was preceded in death by his parents, Iwan Benko and Genowefa (Forkasiwicz) Benko; brothers, Taras Benko and Roman Benko. He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Barbara (Dunstan) Benko, son, Bryan; four sisters, Emily Smith of Wantage, New Jersey, Christine Benko of Budd Lake, New Jersey,Theresa Giulias and husband, Peter of Succasunna, New Jersey, Lilia Benko of Dover, New Jersey; brother, Robert Morgan of Dover, New Jersey; many nieces and nephews; and puppy, Gracie. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 18th at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church, Tampa. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:00 PM prior to mass.