George Michael Kokinchak, 82, of The Villages, Wildwood, Fla., died July 11. Mr. Kokinchak was born February 4, 1931, in Yonkers, N.Y., and moved to The Villages in 2003 from Connecticut.

He served as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy during the Korean War.

Survivors include his loving wife, Roberta, with whom he would have celebrated 59 years on August 1; five children and spouses, Thomas James and Catherine of Newtown, George J. and Beth of New Fairfield, Anne Frances and Ed Furey of Kingston, N.Y., Mark M. and Christine of Southbury, and Catherine Marie and Dr Alan Basso of Ossining, N.Y.; a brother, Vincent, of Somers, N.Y.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

He worked as a tool and die maker developing many products, including the machine that produced threaded surgical needles, prior to his retirement from Pfizer. He was a volunteer fire chief for Redding.

Mr Kokinchak loved being on the water and enjoyed fishing. His hobby after retirement was manufacturing miniature working steam engines in his home shop.

He was a member of St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood.

Visitation for Mr Kokinchak will take place Wednesday, July 17, from 6 to 8 pm, with a service at 7:30 pm, in the Banks/Page-Theus Chapel, 410 North Webster Street, Wildwood. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am, Thursday, July 18, in the St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Wildwood, with the interment following in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or www.stjude.org.

Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.bankspagetheus.com.