Anthony "Butch" Konecny, 85,of Hometown, died peacefully on Sunday, May 22, at 6:25 a.m. in the St Luke's Hospice House, Bethlehem.

He was the husband of the late Margaret Alice (Evans) Konecny

She predeceased him on Nov. 24, 2007. They were married for 54 years.Born in Coaldale, he was the oldest son of Anthony and Anna (Domin) Konecny.

He is survived by a son, Anthony D. Konecny, and his wife, Corinne (Bertin), of Worthington, Ohio; a sister, Dorothy Rauso of Nesquehoning; a brother Joseph, and his wife, Veronica (Yenelavage), of Whiting, N.J.; a brother-in-law, Bob Evans, and a nephew, Dan Evans, both of Tamaqua; and two nieces, Jeanine Konecny in New Jersey and Ann Kuhlkin in Virginia.

Anthony attended the former Coaldale High School before enlisting in the Navy in September 1943 at NTS Sampson, N.Y. He was honorably discharged as a Fireman First Class on March 18, 1946, after serving on two battleships and an amphibious assault ship.

Butch held various positions over 40 years with Textron, Mirrorwall Corporation and Kaiser Aluminum.

He is famously known for routinely swimming up and down the Hauto dam. He held numerous offices at the post, district and state levels of the American Legion.

Anthony reveled in his son's Navy career and the world travel opportunities it presented. During one such visit to Pearl Harbor, he deployed for a day with the USS Cavalla, earning honorary membership in the ship's company.

He was an enthusiastic Navy football supporter.

In their retirement, Butch and Alice enjoyed travel opportunities with the Navy Training Station Sampson Veterans, USS Windsor (APA-55) reunion group, and nursing school get-togethers. He relished these reunions where he shared sea stories with old shipmates.

Service: Mass of Christian Burial 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Tamaqua. Interment, Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown. Call 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, in the church. Contributions may be made to the Alice Konecny Memorial Scholarship, c/o https://www.fcef.com/endowments-konecny.php or the VNA Hospice of St Luke's, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 200 Bethlehem, Pa. 18017. Arrangements by John F. Herron Funeral Home, 458 Center St., Bethlehem.