John “Jack” Rev. Hanyak

Reverend John (Jack) Hanyak, age 66, was reunited with his heavenly family on Sunday, January 17, 2021. Funeral Services are pending. Jack, son of John Hanyak and Mary Hanyak (Pluchta), was born on January 27, 1954 in Braddock, PA and was raised in the Pittsburg area. At age 17 he joined the U.S. Airforce and served most of his time at the Minot Air Force Base (Minot, ND) and was honorably discharged in May of 1976. He married his wife of 40 years, Susan Abbey, on June 28th, 1980. After leaving the Air Force, Jack attended Northwest Bible College in Minot, ND and received a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies in 1981. He furthered his education at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA, and earned a Master of Theology Studies and a Master of Divinity degree. He was an Old Testament scholar who enjoyed studying ancient biblical languages and the history and archeology of the Holy Land. While attending Seminary he also took some classes at Harvard and went on an archeological dig to the ancient site of Numera, which is near the dead sea in Jordan. While there he also visited Israel. Jack was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene and served as a pastor in Danvers, MA and Concord, NH. While pastoring, he led several teams on trips to build churches in Dominican Republic, Cape Verde and South Africa. After pastoring, Jack accepted a special assignment to the New England Nazarene District Camp in NH. He moved to North Carolina in 2007 and retired from North Carolina State Veterinary School in early 2016. Jack was known for his hard work, intelligence, sense of humor, quiet kindness, and ability to fix anything as a true “Jack of all trades.” He was also known for his faithful service of gratitude to His Heavenly Father and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his siblings Clyde, Robert, Martin, and Mary Jo Muradian, as well as nieces Brandy, Ashley and Angela, nephews Daniel, Phillip and Rudy and a grandniece, Maizey. He was proceeded in death by his father- John, mother Mary, and infant sister. John will be laid to rest at the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Amplify Church, 2884 NC-42, Willow Spring, NC 27592 or the Alzheimer’s Association 5171 Glenwood Ave. #101 Raleigh, NC 27612.