GASTONIA, N.C. — John Joseph Luptak, 84, of Gastonia, N.C., died Monday, June 29, 2009 at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia.

He was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Duquesne, a son of the late John and Elizabeth Germak Luptak.

John graduated from McKeesport High School in McKeesport and from Thiel College in Greenville where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity.

John served in the U.S. Army in World War II under Gen. George Patton in Battery “D” of the 489th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. John worked from 1949 to 1999 with Niagara Corp. and retired as vice president of marketing and advertising. John was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge 424 in Jamestown, Pa., and a member of Consistory, Zem Zem Shriners of Erie where he was a life member. He was also a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, of VFW Post 3374 in Greenville and First Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, N.C.

John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Grace Luella Harshaw Luptak of Gastonia; daughters, Mary Beth Bair and her husband, Brian, of Conneaut Lake; Sally Saulsbery and her husband, Patrick, of Charlotte, N.C.; Susan Sharp and her husband, Norman, of Greenville; a son, Richard Luptak and his wife, Connie, of Shelby, N.C.; granddaughters, January Brady and her husband, Bill, of Fredonia; Tricia Gustafson and her husband, Gunnar, of Charlotte, N.C.; a grandson, Elmer Nevin and his wife, Chrissy, of Greenville; great-grandchildren, Laila, Kaylee and Kami; a brother, Carl Luptak and his wife, Marlene, of McKeesport; a sister, Betty Jane Irwin of San Diego, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, William Luptak.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia, 700 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia, N.C. A service to celebrate John’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Founders Chapel of McLean Funeral Directors with Dr. John Frye Jr. officiating. Entombment will follow the service in Gaston Memorial Park with Masonic and Military Rites performed by the WWII Last Man Club of Gaston County.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heineman Medical Research Center, PO Box 35457, Charlotte, N.C. 28735-9975, or to your local heart association.

Condolences may be made online at www.McLeanFuneral.com

McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the family of Mr. Luptak.