Steven J. Hoak, 36, of Black Lick, PA passed away on Sunday, January 6, 2008 in Jacksonville, West Virginia as the result of a work related accident.A son of Joseph P. and Marsha Ann (Reynolds) Hoak, he was born August 14, 1971 in Natrona Heights, PA.Steven attended the Second Baptist Church, Blairsville and graduated from Blairsville High School in 1989.He was a Sergeant in the National Guard. He entered U.S. Army basic training after graduation from high school and attended Advanced Individual Training. He completed AIT and was assigned to C Company (-), 28th Signal Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard in Latrobe. He transferred into the US Navy in 1992 to serve on active duty and attended recruit training. In April, 2000 he separated from the Naval Air Engineering Station at Lakehurst, NJ and transferred into the Naval Reserve Personnel Command. He served with D Company, Task Force Shadow, KFOR6B in Kosovo as part of the NATO KFOR Multi-national Peace Keeping Force from 13 January until 13 December 2005. He was promoted to Sergeant/E5 on 18 September 2006 and has been serving with the 1st Battalion 104 Aviation, 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Johnstown, PA.Sergeant Hoak received many Navy and Army decorations, medals and commendations. He received the Navy Good Conduct Award (2nd award), Letter of Commendation, Commander Naval Air Warfare Center, National Defense Service Medal (1st award), Armed Forces Service Medal, Flag Letter of Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M Device, NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal (2nd award). His military service spanned a total of 15 years, 11 months.Steven was employed by Whipstock Natural Gas, Clymer.Surviving are his parents of Blairsville, a daughter, Amanda Hoak of Barton, NY; his fiancée, Cassandra Liscsak of Black Lick; three sisters, Michelle Harris of Blairsville; Sharon Lee Broddus (Cody) of Hershey and Melissa Ann McGovern (Michael) of Bolivar.He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, William and Katherine Reynolds; paternal grandparents, Robert and Bessie Hoak and two infant brothers, Robert L. Hoak and Robert L Hoak II.The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Thursday at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut Street, Blairsville, PA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday at the funeral home with Rev. Fred W. Craig officiating.Interment will be in Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.The Pennsylvania National Guard will accord full military services.
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