John 'Jack" Atkinson

John F. “Jack” Atkinson, 72, of Skaneateles, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Community General Hospital. Born in Summit, New Jersey on Friday, June 25, 1937, he was the son of Joseph George Atkinson and Fredith Ella Larner Atkinson. He lived in Skaneateles for 35 years. John was a 1955 graduate of Geneva High School and the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1973. He was an Air Force veteran. He retired in 1994 from GE. John was a certified safety professional and a member of Environmental Health & Safety and the System Safety Society. He was very active in the Mottville Boy Scouts and was a former commissioner of the Hiawatha Council Boy Scouts. He was an avid outdoorsman. He was also a former commissioner of the Mottville Fire Dept. He loved performing, playing the role of Santa. He also belonged to the Kiltie Bagpipe Band. John was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Fredith; and his brother, Joseph Jr. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, the former Wanetta Warner; daughters and sons-in-law, Marie and Robert Imundo of Old Forge, Susan Robedee of Fairmount and Debbie and Mike Desso of Santa Clarita, California; son and daughter-in-law, John and Patty Atkinson Jr. of Yorktown, Virginia; sisters and brother-in-law, Ann and John Davie of Geneva and Katherine O’Connell of Palmyra; brothers, Charles of Pennsylvania, Richard of Houston, Texas and David of Glens Falls; sister-in-law, Linda Atkinson of Honolulu, Hawaii; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. Relatives and friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. preceding the service at the funeral home. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to S.A.V.E.S., 77 Fennell St., Skaneateles, NY 13152.