Richard "Rich" Jeffrey Janik

Mr. Richard “Rich” Jeffrey Janik, 69, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He was born on January 7, 1957, to the late Richard L. Janik and Eleanore Janik in Euclid, OH. He lived in Salix, PA and then moved to Rural Hall, NC in 2014. He resided in King, NC at the end of his life. Rich graduated from Greater Johnson Vo-Tech in 1975 as a machinist. He was employed at Leman Machine Company in Portage, PA as a machinist. Rich was a former member of the Elton Sportsman Club in Elton, PA, Portage Pistol Club of St, Michael, NRA patron for life, Legion 55, North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief Team. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC and Lisa Fendley’s Tribe of Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child where he served year-round for the last ten years.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Beverely Janik and his soulmate and life partner, Carol Jean Lapinsky. Rich is survived by his two daughters, Amanda Graffius of Windber, PA and Alisha Janik of St. Petersburg, FL; three grandchildren, Shyanna Graffius, Wyatt Graffius, and Zoey Oliver; daughter in Christ, Gabris Fresch (Don); and granddaughter in Christ Chyanne Whitaker (Jake); and numerous friends and family in several states.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 4:00 PM Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Bethany Baptist Church, 600 Old Hollow Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27105 with Dr. Brad Stamey officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu flowers, monetary donations or shoebox related items can be given to Lisa Fendley Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes to bless “his kids around the world”.