John Scerbak Scerbak

September 23, 1929 - August 17, 2012

John Scerbak of Boon, Michigan passed away Friday August 17, 2012 at Bronson Battle Creek. He was 82. He was born September 23, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan to John and Irene (Zayler) Scerbak and they preceded him in death. John lived most of his life in Detroit. After graduating from Michigan State University he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following the war, he became a Foreign Service Officer in the US Department of State, where he remained for the duration of his career. He lived and raised his family overseas, including assignments in Korea, Austria, Australia, India, Turkey, Egypt, and Belgium. John loved to travel, frequently exploring with his wife and children the seldom traveled paths of the countries he lived in. John had a keen interest in the diversity of cultures and ideas found throughout the world, particularly in music, literature, food, and philosophy. Underlying all of his travels was a sincere desire to broaden his Catholic faith and find God in the world. On April 12, 1958, he married Doris Elaine Brackins and she survives him along with their four children: Catherine (Wilbert) McHue of Raleigh, NC; Matthew Scerbak of Fairbanks, AK, Stephen (Stephanie) Scerbak of Ann Arbor, MI; Susan (Dave) Stolarski of Ypsilanti, MI; 17 grandchildren; a brother, Joseph (Eileen) Scerbak of Traverse City; 2 sisters: Marilyn (Tim) Sabin of Grand Blanc and Susan (Steve) Griffore of Holland and many nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 24, 2012 at the Saint Ann Catholic Church in Cadillac with Reverend Craig Haider as celebrant. Friends may meet the family one hour prior to the mass at church. Burial will be at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Cadillac with full military rites under the auspices of the Cadillac Area Honor Guard. Arrangements were made by the Peterson Funeral Home in Cadillac. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus or Carmilite Monastery of Traverse City. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.