John Costanich was the son of a coal miner. His father, Bartal Jacob Kostanic (original spelling before emigrating from Croatia) worked for the South Willis Coal Company in Wilkeson and later Morris Brothers Coal Mining Company. Both firms were predecessors to Palmer Coking Coal Co. (Palmer) where John found long term employment. After the war John was a commercial fisherman in Gig Harbor; while also working part time for Dick Wetton’s Kummer Coal Co. The next 27 years of John’s life were devoted to coal mining.