First Posted: 7/23/2013

Paul Grabko, 84, of Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Friday, July 19, 2013 at Timber Ridge Health Care Center, Plains Township.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late Michael and Mary Babula Grabko. He was educated in the Wilkes-Barre area schools and started work at age 15 in strip mines.

Paul was a member of the operating engineers and worked as a crane operator for No.1 Construction, G.E. Ray Construction, West Virginia, and B.G Danish, Dayton, Ohio. While working for No.1 Construction, he worked at the following disasters sites: Knox mines, Jerry White mines, Scranton, and Shepton mines. He also did rescue work during the 1972 flood at the Hotel Sterling.

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He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in Alaska as a corporal.

Paul was a member of the Parson VFW, United Mine Workers and operating engineers. His hobbies included old classic cars, fishing, boating, waterskiing and camping and hiking with his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Michaelene Mulhern; and brother, Peter Grabko.

Surviving are his wife, Pauline Parent Grabko, Wilkes-Barre; daughter, Paulette Bruckler and her husband, Butch, West Pittston; sons, Paul Grabko Jr. and his wife Vicky, Mountain Top, Michael Grabko, Wilkes-Barre; brother, John Grabko, Somerville, N.J.; sisters, Olga Macieko, Somerville, and Genevieve Lavis, Hudson; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Yeosock Funeral Home, Plains Township, with the Very Rev. Joseph Martin as officiant. Interment was in Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas.