James Demko

James Michael Demko, 76 of Tacoma, Washington, died on February 8, 2005 at Fransiscan Hospice in Tacoma. He was born on January 21, 1929 in Glasgow, Montana to Michael Leonard Demko and Mary Cygan. James graduated from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Washington in 1947 and attended Olympic Jr. College in Bremerton. He married Colleen Lee Collins on December 9, 1949 in Port Orchard. Mr. Demko worked for Keyport Naval Torpedo Station and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1985 after 38 years of service. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Staff Sergeant from 1946 to 1947 and was recalled from 1950 to 1951. James was active with Peace Lutheran Church where he served as an Elder and helped to build the church and 2 homes for his family. Mr. Demko enjoyed golfing, loved to fish, and helped build his own boat. Surviving are his wife Colleen of Tacoma; sons James (Kelly) Demko, Jr. of Petersburg, Alaska and Shawn Demko of Tahuya, Washington; daughters Jacqueline (Jim) Horton and Shannon (Jeff) Johnson; brother Frank Demko of Bremerton; grandchildren Brian Edward Zuarri, Jonathan Michael Fesler, Mikaela Ann Johnson, Lauren Colleen Johnson, and Liam Conner Demko. Preceded in death by sister Lorraine Scheet and brother Robert Demko. Visitation will be Saturday, February 12th from 9am to 1pm at Rill Chapel's Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard. Service will be at Peace Lutheran Church in Bremerton on Sunday, February 13, 2005 at 3pm. Memorial donations may be made to Parkinsons Disease Foundation, P.O. Box 56, Mercer Island, WA 98040.