Joan E Lackner

JOAN LACKNER OBITUARY

Joan E. Kraisinger Lackner (née Zajdel), 90 of Saxonburg, PA, where she lived with her son, Chuck, and family, died on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, after a brief hospice stay. Joan, “Jo-Ann” to all who knew her, was born on September 27, 1935, in a patch near South Greensburg known to many as “Red Onion”. She was the daughter of the late William F. and Agnes E. Zajdel (née Sedlacko). Joan was a loving wife for over 30 years to both of her husbands, William J. Kraisinger who passed in 1985 and Frank J. Lackner who passed in 2023. In addition to her parents and husbands, Joan was preceded in death by an infant son, James W. Kraisinger in 1955 and two brothers: Frank J. Zajdel of Greensburg; and Thomas R. Zajdel of Fairfax, VA.

Joan graduated from Greensburg-Salem High School in 1953 and was employed as a telephone operator at the local telephone company shortly thereafter until she met her first husband William “Bill” Kraisinger. They married in 1954 and Joan moved to Mount Pleasant where she worked in various capacities at the Kraisinger family business, Kraisinger’s Market, while raising four rambunctious sons who managed somehow to become professionals in law, dentistry, engineering, and business. After Bill’s death, Joan began working in the cafeteria at the newly opened Volkswagen factory just outside of town. It was here that Joan met her second husband, Frank Lackner. Joan and Frank married in 1990, and Joan moved out to the country, just outside of Latrobe near Baggaley, where they lived happily for the next 33 years.

Joan was a loving sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt to those who survive her: her brother William E. Zajdel (Irene); sons Jerry (Alison), Paul, Chuck (Maricel) and Drew (Phyllis) Kraisinger; grandchildren, Laura, Joe, Tara, Cameron, Jon Paul, Owen, Elizabeth, Anna, and CJ; great grandchildren, Carson, Enzo, Ruby, Graham, Sloane, and Teddie; and many nieces and nephews, worthy but too numerous to mention.

Joan was a faithful member of St. Bruno’s Catholic Church in South Greensburg, Visitation BVM Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant (where she was a member of its choir and Christian Mothers’ Association), and most recently St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Whitney, PA. In her later years when she was unable to attend mass in person, she never missed watching the daily mass on EWTN.

Joan enjoyed listening to polkas, especially the “Joanne Polka”, and watching every Pittsburgh sports team with great enthusiasm. She also loved to cook; it never seemed to matter whether it was for 5 or for 50. Joan worked tirelessly, and it seemed effortlessly, to entertain and welcome others into her home and family. She will be greatly missed by both her family and her many friends.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 to 3PM and 6 to 8PM Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at SLATER-REGA FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 730 W. MAIN STREET, MT. PLEASANT, where parting prayers will begin at 9:30AM Wednesday, January 7, 2026, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 10AM at Visitation Roman Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant, and a reception at the Polish Falcons Club in Mount Pleasant. Interment will be in the Visitation Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, 740 Walnut Street, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666.

Please visit Joan's online memorial at rega.slaterfuneral.com to sign the condolence guestbook. Richard Rega, funeral director.