Unity man remembered for his love of life, family and friends

Kenneth J. Planinsek of Unity was a man who loved life and appreciated family and friends, whether it was cooking for a large gathering of family and friends, organizing a golf outing, decorating a Christmas tree in the woods or being outdoors.

“He lived his life with politeness and grace,” said his wife, Beth Smith Planinsek.

Planinsek, 62, died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, after a battle with cancer.

He was born June 30, 1960, in Latrobe, a son of the late Edward V. Planinsek Sr. and Janet Jackman Planinsek.

He graduated from Greater Latrobe High School and Saint Vincent College near Latrobe, where he studied business.

Planinsek had a long career in newspapers, working in upper management positions in the Raleigh News & Observer; a Dayton, Ohio, newspaper; and at the Tribune-Review, where he was a circulation manager and distribution manager for about 15 years.

“He was very proud of his career in newspapers,” said Beth Planinsek, who said he viewed it as a responsibility to help customers get their papers delivered on time.

Planinsek also worked for the Westmoreland Transit Authority in Greensburg.

His cooking skills were legendary. He had been a cook at a local restaurant in his younger days and managed a restaurant in North Carolina.

His nephew, David Planinsek of Latrobe, recalled how he was an excellent self-taught cook who could create meals for more than 40 people. Even with that many hungry mouths to feed, he still would have food left over for everyone to take home.

Planinsek was particularly proud of his homemade chili. It was so good, in fact, he was a four-time winner in the chili cook-off at the Youngstown Firemen’s Club, David Planinsek said.

He grew his own Concord grapes and made wine that was so good, he won the Family & Friends Wine-Making Contest in the same year, 2018, that he won the chili contest, David Planinsek said.

Beth Planinsek recalled a great family tradition he carried on for many years of decorating and lighting a Christmas tree in the woods near their home on Youngstown Ridge, during Christmastime.

And, even though it took connecting hundreds of feet of electrical extension cords to connect the lights on the tree to his house, he was determined to do it.

“Ken was really proud of that,” Beth Planinsek said. “Everybody looked forward to it for years.”

His son, Bernie J. Lynch of Dallas, said one of his great qualities was that “he would listen without judging, give advice when asked and make an offer to help out.”

He loved music, and the family marveled that “he could hear a few chords of a song, and he knew it,” regardless of whether it was an oldie or more modern tune, Beth Planinsek said.

His niece, Jenny Singer of Latrobe, said her uncle was the kind of person who, when you met him, you had a friend.

“You could never have enough time with him,” Singer said. “He always made you laugh.”

The family said he was quite the storyteller. He would start out with the line, “This is an honest-to-God true story,” David Planinsek said.

He was an avid golfer who enjoyed coordinating golf trips for his friends to out-of-state courses in Virginia and North Carolina. He was good enough, or lucky enough, to shoot two holes-in-one.

David Planinsek said his uncle taught him more than just how to play golf, but proper golf etiquette that “translated into how he lived his life,” such as playing the ball where it laid and fixing the divots you dug into the course.

The couple loved living along Youngstown Ridge, despite its remoteness.

“We enjoy being up here with the wildlife and the peace and quiet,” Beth Planinsek said.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Youngstown.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, David W. Planinsek and Michael D. “Mick” Planinsek.

In addition to his wife of 16 years, Beth Smith Planinsek, and son, Bernie Lynch, he is survived by two other sons, Sean M. Lynch of Latrobe and Patrick A. Lynch of Pittsburgh; one daughter, Kali A. Lynch, of Columbus, Ohio; one brother, and three sisters.

Family and friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lopatich-Brinker Funeral Home LLC., 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. Members of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society will recite the rosary at 2:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Sacred Heart Church, Youngstown. Interment will follow at Unity Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box 328, Youngstown, PA 15696, and/or The Annual Planinsek Fishing Derby, in care of Cindy Planinsek.