John Yemich, 85 of Fairpoint, Ohio died Sunday, September 2, 2007 at Wheeling Hospital. He was born January 19, 1922 in Fairpoint, a son of the late Marco Yemich and Josephine Zagoric Yemich.

John was retired from Consolidation Coal where he was an underground miner for 35 years, working at Willow Grove, Dun Glen, Glen Castle, Franklin 25, and Franklin 65 mines.

He was a proud WWII U.S. Army veteran, having served in the highly decorated 291st Combat Engineer Battalion. He was awarded 2 Presidential Unit Citations, and 5 Bronze Battle Stars for battles that included the D-Day Normandy Invasion, and the Battle of the Bulge.

John attended St. Clairsville High School. He left school at the age of 16 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. to help support his family by working in a Logging Camp in Idaho.

He was a member of St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Fairpoint, a life member of VFW Post 5356 in St. Clairsville since 1946, a member of the 291st Combat Engineer?s Reunion Association and faithfully attended each year?s reunion. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and COMPAC and served as UMWA Local 1360 President. He was a Belmont County Precinct Committeeman for Wheeling Township Precinct 124, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4243 in St. Clairsville, the Fairpoint Polish Club, and St. Clairsville High School Alumni Association.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Anthony, who died as an infant, Raymond, and Marko; a sister, Agnes Guehl.

Surviving are his loving wife of 58 years, Marjorie Klosek Yemich; three children, Patricia (Matt) Littman of New Athens, Sharon Yemich of Lakewood, Ohio and John Yemich of St. Clairsville; a sister, Elizabeth Hayhurst of Pittsburgh; 2 grandchildren, Jodi (Jeff) Tomaszewski of Concord Township, Ohio and Matthew Littman of New Athens; 3 great grandchildren, Emma, Chloe, and Jaylan.

Friends will be received on Wednesday from 12 to 3 and 5 to 9 p.m. at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville. A funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Fairpoint with Father Thomas Graven the celebrant. Burial follows in Union Cemetery, St. Clairsville.

There will be a vigil service on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Full military honors will be provided by the Belmont County Council of VFWs on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland Trail Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 262, St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950.