He was born on Monday, June 21st, 1954, in Harrisburg, PA. He was the son of Delores M. Sviben (Dively) and John J. “Red” Sviben Sr, both of the original West Side of Steelton, PA.
He attended grade school at St. James, then Steelton High School.
He was a volunteer firefighter and EMT from the age of 18 until 1997, when he fell ill and received a liver transplant at the University of Pennsylvania hospital. He was a lifetime member of both the Steelton Fire Department, and West Side Hose Company #3, in Steelton, PA.
He is survived by his nephews Fred Sviben, his wife Denise, and their children Tanner and Lindsey, and Jose Cruz, his son Jason, and his wife Tiffany (Brown), and his niece Heather, and her children Brandi, Amanda and her husband Frank, and Joey, and his great niece Madison. He was preceded in death by both his parents, his sister Mary C. “Cathy” Sviben, her son David J. Sviben, and her daughter Stacey D. Sviben, their brother Joeseph J. Sviben and his wife Kathy (Carnes), all of Steelton, PA.
Services will be held at Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry St., Harrisburg, Wednesday, June 24th. Visitation will be from 10 am to 12 pm at the funeral home, with the graveside service at 1 pm at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Steelton Fire Department in John’s memory.
