George Mishenko

George Mishenko was my Uncle, my father, Stephen's older brother. He was a tall man, as were most of the family of Andrew and Anna (Sovich or Lavic) . There were 12 children born to Andrew and Anna. Andrew was born in Lubotin, Slovakia and was a pioneer to the town which was starting to grow when he arrived about 1887. Of the 12 children 9 survived into adulthood.

   George was probably the most outgoing. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He loved people and they loved him. late in his life he had to have his leg taken off, but he kept his great sense of humor througout. As a young man he went off to war (WW I) served in the U.S. Navy and went to Belgium. George's first wife, Laura Leibold, was a  jolly woman and a kind hearted soul. They were married in Sacred Heart of Jesus Ch., Lancaster,PA June 1 1928. They did not have any children so they adolpted two children; first George Dale Mishenko and years later, they adopted Larry.

   George would love to return to his hometown and visit. He was a great story teller and would relate "true" tales of the "Black Hands" in the town in the '20's and '30's. When Johnsonburg was nicknamed "Little Chicago".  

   After Laura died, he remrried,but it didn't work out. Later he met a wonderful woman who shared his life and lived happily ever after, until his death in 1991.