Edward "Catbird" Elnikar, Sr.

Edward “Catbird” Elnikar Sr., age 97, of Perryopolis passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, in Jefferson Regional Medical Center with his loving family by his side.  He was born November 24, 1920 in Bertha, WV the son of Joseph and Mari Repos Elnikar.                                                           
Edward was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Perryopolis. He was also a member of the Slovak Catholic Sokol Club in Perryopolis.  Edward loved to be the “life of the party”, loving to dance, especially the polka.  He enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting. He also enjoyed watching his Steelers and Pirates on TV.  
Edward was a proud veteran of World War II. He retired from Penn Dot. “Catbird” also worked for many years as a bartender at the Perry Sokol Club. Edward spent the last year of his life in the contented care and love of his grandson, Edward M. and wife, Lisa.  
In addition to his parents, Edward was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret (Mitko) Elnikar, and a granddaughter, Christine (Lawrence) Finney.
Edward is survived by a daughter, Margaret Lawrence and husband, Ronald; two sons: Edward J. Elnikar and wife, Rebecca and Mark E. Elnikar, five grandchildren; four great grandchildren and a sister, Freda Hospodavis.
Edward’s family will receive friends on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 2 to 8 p.m. in the Blair-Lowther Funeral Home, 305 Rear Independence Street, Perryopolis, PA, where a Blessing Service will be held on Saturday, January 6 at 10:00 AM with Father Anthony Ditto as celebrant.  
Due to the inclement weather, interment will take place in St. John the Baptist Cemetery at a later date to be announced by the Blair-Lowther Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in the name of Edward Elnikar Sr.
Full Military Rites and Honors will be accorded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7023 and the American Legion Post 752 on Friday at 6:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

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