Master Sergeant John Methodius Milko, retired, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, 76, of Exeter, passed away on Friday , June 20, 2014 at his home.  

Born in Exeter, he was the son of the late John and Mary Hetro Milko.  He was educated at Exeter High School, attended Morris County College, N.J., and LCCC.  He served in the United States marine Corp as well as New Jersey National Guard.  He was a member of the 109th Field Artillery in Kingston where he was employed as a full time administration technician.  He received many state and national awards in his 42 years of Military service.  He was a 40 year member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

As a youth, he was a member of Exeter Boy Scout Troop 311.  He was also an altar server at St. John the Baptist Church of Pittston.  An award - winning golfer, he bagan as a caddy at Fox Hill Country Club.  He also enjoyed hunting, trapping, gardening, and picking mushrooms.  He had been a lector at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Harding.  Presently, he was a member of St. Barbara Parish in Exeter.

Preceded in death by sisters Marlene Milko, Theresa Milko Hromisin, a brother Joseph Milko, and a nephew Ronald Bell.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Gloria Pesta Milko. and daughters, Sherilyn and her husband Mark Herron, Nanticoke and Elaine and her husband Paul Mesuk, Bloomfield,N.J. Grandchildren, Conal and Elora Herron and Julia Mae Mesuk.  Sister Anna Mae Bodosky and a brother Michael and his wife Gayle Milko, several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great gephews.

The family would llike to express their sincerest gratitude to Dr. Mary E. Sokach and her staff, to the nurses and aides of Celtic Health Care, especially Francine Pernikoff and Michele Biduck for their compassion during John's fourteen year journey with a spinal cord injury.

Military funeral services will be held on Monday June 23, 2014 at 9:00am from the Gubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.  A Mass of Christian burial will be at 9:30am at St. Cecilia's Church ( St. Barbara Parish), Wyoming Ave., Exeter.
Interment will be in  Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dupont.
Relatives and friends may call on Sunday from 5:00- 8:00pm. at the funeral home.

To send the family an expression of sympathy or an online condolence, please visit www.gubbiottifh.com.