United States Air Force veteran, crane operator, baseball standout in his youth, Julian Rankosky, 85 of Galloway, NJ passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 14, 2022, at his son's home in Fernandina Beach, FL.

He grew up in Linden, NJ where he attended Linden High School and was in the class of 1953. After high school, he served in the Air Force, working as a crane operator for Exxon at the Bayway Refinery and was a bartender at Big Stash's in Linden, NJ.

In his youth, he was an exceptional baseball player. While playing baseball in Japan for the Air Force, he once stole home on a broken ankle and came back to pitch a four-hit shutout during the second game of a double header.

He is predeceased by his parents, Julian and Helen (Tomkiel) Rankosky; stepson, Michael Kreider; and siblings, Helen Pieniazek, Mary Domoracki, Julia Craig, Ann Picone and John Rankosky.

He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Elaine Rankosky (Bendick); daughter, Juliann Kreider; son, James Rankosky and his children Julian and Nicole Rankosky; stepdaughter, Janice Harms (Kreider) and her children, Andrew, Christopher and Patrice Harms; sister, Amelia Hrankosky and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.