Sheldon Bare

Sheldon “Shel” Bare, 96, of Altoona, passed away Saturday at the Van Zandt VA Medical Center. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Walter and Mattie (McMillin) Bare. Surviving are his daughters: Linda (Frank) Scalice and Holly Spatafora; grandchildren-John (Sue) Koeck, Mark (Amanda) Scalice, Sherry Koeck, Renee (Tom) Palmerine, Michele (Jason) Decosky, Tera (Jamie) Eichenlaub, Jennifer (Scott) Plank, Richard (Julie) Bare, Kevin Bare, Micky Bare; numerous great and great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and a special friend Anna Stahl. He was preceded in death by 2 daughters: Sheila (Richard) Wahl and Wendy (John) Hainley, his son Sheldon Bare, Jr “Micky”; son in law Sam Spatafora; his brothers Walter, Elwood, and Melvin; his sisters: Ruth Krape, Lillian Long, Mary Black, Theda David, and Wilma Barndollar; grandsons: David Koeck and J.R. Macak, Steven Koeck, and Jefferey Scalice, and 1 great-granddaughter Kelsey Scalice. Sheldon is a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, who served with honor, valor, and distinction with the 2nd Ranger Battalion-D Company. He participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, assaulting the cliffs at Point du Hoc where he was where he was awarded one of his two purple hearts. For his service he was awarded: 3 Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster, Combat infantry badge, Good conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit citation with arrowhead, American Campaign Medal, WW II victory medal, the European Theatre of Operations ribbon, Battle of the Buldge medal, D-Day Medal, Combat Service Medal, and The European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. He was also awarded the Unit French Crux Querrie, and in 2011, was awarded the Legion of Honor from the French Government, France’s highest order that recognizes military and civilians alike for their bravery or honorable service to the country. After WW II, he served with the 772nd Military Police Battalion, Fort George C. Mende, Maryland. Prior to WWII, Sheldon worked with the PA Railroad, after the war he worked with the PA Association for the Blind where he retired in 1988. He was a member of the Juniata VFW-Fort Apache, the Bavarian Aid Society, the Newburg Fire Hall, and served on the Board of Directors for the PA Association for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Sheldon enjoyed reading, John Wayne movies, sports of all kinds, telling stories and the camaraderie of his fellow veterans. The family wishes to thank the entire staff on the 6th floor at the Van Zandt Medical Center for their love, compassion, and dedication in caring for him and the veterans in their care. Friends will be received from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday, August 8, 2019, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Inc., where a service will be held at 10 AM Friday, August 9, 2019 . Interment at Blair Memorial Park.