Lifelong Phoenixville Man, National Guard Captain, Passes at 85

Image and obituary courtesy Campbell Ennis Klotzbach Funeral Home.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA -- Eugene Joseph Sakal, 85, husband of Mary Rose (McGuigan) Sakal, of Phoenixville died Dec. 28, 2016, in Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care at Phoenixville Hospital after a brief illness. Born March 29, 1931, in Phoenixville, he was the son of the late John S. and Mary C. (Klup) Sakal, and lived in Phoenixville his entire life, graduating from Phoenixville High School, Class of 1949.

He and his wife were married 63 years. Mr. Sakal was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church, Phoenixville, where he was active in the Holy Name Society, serving Sunday breakfast for many years as chief cook.

When the parish closed in 2012, he became a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Phoenixville.

He retired as a captain in the U.S. Army/Pennsylvania National Guard 111th Infantry Regiment, in which he served from 1949-1969. He'd worked as a purchasing agent at Boiler Engineering, Phoenixville, and Amerind-MacKissic, Parker Ford, after which he was a self-employed painter.

Cooking and baking were Mr. Sakal's passions. He was a cook at Mickey Rooney's Downingtown Inn in the 1960s and 1970s and later worked in the Ursinus College cafeteria. Family and friends knew him for his Sunday breakfasts at home and for the Polish and Slovak desserts he baked during the holidays, as well as his homemade Irish cream. He was also an avid woodworker.

Surviving with his wife are six children: Joseph E., husband of Diane (O'Malley); David, companion of Aniko Cochran; and Maureen A., wife of Richard Mark Kirkner, all of Phoenixville; Ellen K., wife of Robert Petrecz, of Collegeville; Brian J., husband of Patricia (LaRocca) of King of Prussia; and Mary Jean, fiancee of Timothy Cornelius, at home. Also surviving are a sister, Anna Broncato, of Bethpage, N.Y.; nine grandchildren, James, Patrick, Taylor and Tyler Sakal; John, Robert and Hannah Kirkner; and Adam and Justin Petrecz; and multiple nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, James Michael, and brothers John A. and Richard P. Sakal.

Friends and family may call Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, 610 S. Main St., Phoenixville. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Church, 148 Church St., Phoenixville, with the Rev. John J. Newns officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Phoenixville. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the charities of one's choice.