Tributes 2009-04-27

Jordan J. Berkebile, 51

YOUNGSTOWN – A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today, April 27, at the Rossi Brothers Funeral Home in Boardman for Jordan Berkebile, who passed away Saturday afternoon, April 25, from complications of a brain aneurysm.

Jordan was born March 31, 1958 in Youngstown, the son of John W. and Donna Lee (Edmonson) Berkebile.

He had been working at the Chalet in Cornersburg.

Jordan was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates and The Ohio State Buckeyes.

He was a 1976 Graduate of Boardman High School.

Jordan will always be loved and remembered by his daughter, Emily Berkebile, whom he adored; his two sisters, Tracy (Stan) Nix of Fountaintown, Ind. and Lisa (Michael) Jurus of Boardman; five nieces and nephews, Katelyn, Kimberly, and Kristina Nix and Michael and Laci Jurus; several loving aunts and cousins; two stepchildren, Zach and Allison Covan; and many good friends.

Jordan was preceded in death by his parents, John and Donna and several aunts and uncles.

Friends may call today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Avenue in Boardman.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nurses on the Neuro Intensive Care Floor at St. Elizabeth Health Center for all of the care shown to Jordan.

Contributions can be made in Jordan’s name to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

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Donald David Boley Sr., 63

MT. CLARE, W.VA. – Mr. Donald David Boley Sr., 63, of Route 25, passed away at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009, at his residence following an extended illness.

He was born in Youngstown, a son of the late George David Boley and Donna Leese Boley.

His wife, Betsy Louise “Tinker” Saccamen Boley, whom he married June 10, 1972, preceded him in death March 13, 2000.

Surviving are two sons, Donald David Boley Jr. and Brian Edward Boley and wife Joann of Mt. Clare; two daughters, Tracy Louise Boley and Shelly Marie Richardson and husband Lee of Philippi, W.Va.; three brothers and spouses, Dusty and Patricia Boley of Columbiana, Jerry Hanley of North Jackson and Larry and Michelle Hanley of New Springfield; eight sisters and spouses, Charolette Herman of Austintown, Linda Petrosky of Youngstown, Marylyn Sees of Girard, Terrie ZaPata of Youngstown, Suzanne Moskal of New Castle, Pa., Cindy and Jack Rhodes of Girard, Tammy Hanley of Youngstown and Gina and Ron Porterfield of Girard; 16 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Boley was also preceded in death by one brother, Harvey Boley.

Mr. Boley was Baptist by faith and had attended the Bible Baptist Temple.

He was employed as a truck driver.

Friends may call at the Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 East Main St. in Clarksburg, W.Va., from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Charles “Chuck” Madaus presiding. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in West Milford, W.Va.

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Martha O. Daily, 97

POLAND – Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Lane Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel for Martha O. Daily, 97, formerly of Youngstown, who passed away Friday afternoon at Omni Manor Assisted Living Center.

Martha leaves one sister, Louise Hasbrouck of Poland, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services today at the funeral home.

Family and friends may visit www.lanefuneralhomes.com to view this obituary and send condolences

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Margo J.

Greathouse, 78

YOUNGSTOWN – Margo J. Greathouse, 78, died April 25, 2009.

Margo was born June 15, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, a daughter of the late Frank and Goldie Reed.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting and painting ceramics.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard Greathouse, whom she married May 29, 1968; daughters Darla (Ray) Price-Cappy of Youngstown, Charlette Smith of Leetonia and Dawn Greathouse of Girard; grandchildren Jessie T. Greathouse, George and Terry Smith, Tony, Brenda and Angela Carmendy; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle Anderson.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at 4 p.m. at the Blackstone Funeral Home in Girard, where visitation will be from 2 p.m. until the time of service.

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Juley Kerlek, 83

NEW MIDDLETOWN – Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Carpathian Russian Greek Orthodox Catholic Church, 125 Steel St., Youngstown, OH 44509 for Juley Kerlek, 83, who passed away Saturday morning.

Juley was born on March 20, 1926, in New Middletown, a daughter of Demeter and Anna Templey Pitzo.

She graduated from the Springfield Local High School in 1944. She lived in New Middletown until 1959, then moving to Struthers in 1970. She moved to Florida from 1974 until 1997 and then returned to New MIddletown.

She worked at the Komarc Studios as a photo colorist for 20 years, doing photos for the Campbell and Struthers High School’s yearbook photos in the 1950s and 1960s. Also, when she lived in Florida, she worked at the bakery at the Winn Dixie, a job she truly loved. She also enjoyed cooking. She was a member of St. Michael Carpathian Russian Greek Orthodox Catholic Church.

Juley married George Kerlek Sr. on June 7, 1947, and he passed away on Dec. 1, 2003.

She leaves three sons, George Kerlek Jr. of New Middletown, John R. Kerlek of Poland and David C. Kerlek of Naples, Fla.; one daughter, Karen A. Miller of Phoenix; also seven grandchildren, Jason Kerlek, Katie (Doug) Kirchner, Alex Kerlek, Tanner Kerlek, Colten Kerlek, Hunter Kerlek and Chase Kerlek; and six great-grandchildren, Skyler Kirchner, Michael Kerlek, Teresa Kerlek, Katerina Kerlek, Ian Kirchner and Patrick Kerlek.

Juley was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and two brothers, Dan and Mike Pitzo.

There will be no calling hours.

Arrangements by the Clemente Funeral Home in New Middletown.

The family requests that material contributions be made to the donors choice in her name.

Please visit www.clementefuneralhomes.com to send condolences or to view this obituary.

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Johnny Krizancic, 80

HERMITAGE, PA. – Johnny Krizancic, Martha’s beloved husband and best friend, was promoted to glory, Saturday, April 25, 2009, at 5:12 a.m. at UPMC Horizon Hospital after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

 Mr. Krizancic was born in Farrell, Pa., on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929, a son of Ignatius and Helen (Novosel) Krizancic.

He served in the United States Air Force. Upon discharge from the military, he attended Westminster College as a music major and after two years switched his major to Electrical and Radio engineering at Penn State University.

By his God given talents, he devoted his life, heritage, time and energy as an important force in the world of polka and international entertainment. He was not only a performer, but also a Radio/TV personality and recording artist, a record company executive, sound engineer, and music producer.

During his educational time he performed with a variety of orchestras from Big Band, Country, Slovene Style Polka and Croatian/Serbian Tamburitza. In the past 60 years, Johnny performed on occasion with America’s Polka King Frank Yankovic, Canada’s Polka King Walter Ostanek and the Hank Haller Ensemble on live performances, videos and recordings. In his early years in the tamburitza field, he performed with many groups as the Dave Zupkovich Balkan Recording Orchestra, George Skrbina, the Veseli Tamburitzans and his own international group, which recorded over 10 Polka and Tamburitza albums.

In 1959, Johnny and his wife, Martha, organized the Veseli Tamburitzans with other former member of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans and recorded their first album on a newly formed record label created by Martha and Johnny Krizancic entitled Marjon International Music.

Since then, Johnny has recorded, produced and financed in his recording studio 10 LP albums for London Records and over 50 polka and tamburitza LP albums on his Marjon Label. He produced and recorded over 65 Slovenian, German and Czech albums for (1992 Grammy Nominee) Hank Haller and over 250 albums of various polka, tamburitza and international artists and groups. Johnny was a performer on Walter Ostanek’s Grammy Winning Album “Music and Friends” and one of the engineers on two other Grammy Award Winning Albums by Walter Ostanek. On “Frank Yankovic’s” First Grammy Award Winning “70 Years of Hits” in 1985, Johnny’s composition of “Zivila Braca, Ziveli Sestre” (Long Live our Brother/Sisters) was song number one on side one.

In 1961, Johnny began his international and polka radio programs on Station WFAR in the Sharon, Pa.,-Youngstown, area on Sunday morning and in 1969 began a 45 minute daily polka program which lasted for a period of 14 years. Since 1983 Johnny has been a Polka DJ on WPIC Radio, Sharon, Pa., WAJT Radio, Chardon, and Polka show on the Internet at The Jammer Network.org. Totaling a period of over 50 years, Johnny has been promoting Cleveland style polkas and other international ethnic music.

His awards include, 1966 Gold Record Album, 1983 Inducted into Tamburitza Hall of Fame, 1987 Bavarian Fun Fest Festmeister – Key to City and Johnny Krizancic Day in Sharon, 1991 Penn Ohio Polka Pals Man of the Year, Polka Radio Club Man of the Year, and Hermitage, Pa., Man of the Year, 1988 POPP Boosters Lifetime Dedication Award, 1993 ABC Club Man of the Year, Canton Mayor’s Citation; 1994 Inducted into Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Grandmaster Slovenefest – Enon Valley, Pa., 1996 Honored for 40 years on Polka Radio, 1998 Krizancic’s composition of Zivila Braca, Ziveli Sestre (Long Live Our Brothers/Sisters) inducted into Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. In addition to the above awards, Johnny produced, directed and recorded the music sound track to the Hollywood motion picture “Gandy Hopper” and the USA and Australian motion picture documentary of “Homeland to Homelands,” in which he also acted and sang.

John was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Morefield Rd. in Hermitage. He was a dedicated church member, teaching Sunday School, and was on the Church Council, Evangelism Committee for over 40 years. He worked with the Thrivent Financial, raising money to help people and the community. He was a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 817 and the Slovene National Benefit Society Keystoners Lodge.

He leaves his dedicated wife, Martha (Dzurinda) Krizancic, whom he married, April 23, 1955; a sister, Ann Dovutovich of Sharon, Pa.; a brother, “Mickey” Krizancic and his wife, Frances, of Girard; many nieces, nephews and the families of: Lori Terpak, Michele Radon, Susan Krizancic, Robert Krizancic, Mary Ann, Thomas, and Joe Dovutovich, Sue Paul and Andrea Detelich, Roxanne Pagley, Matt, Stephen, and Tod Dzurinda, Ruth Toth and families; and Godchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles.

John will be sadly missed by his wife Martha of 54 years and the many friends and relatives he touched with his beautiful voice and musical talents.

Calling hours will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon, PA 16146

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. John Lynch and Rev. Ngweshemi Andrea. A procession will leave the funeral home at 9:15 a.m.

Burial will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

“And the Lord asked, ‘Servant, what have you done with the One Talent I gave you?’ And John answered, ‘Yes, Lord I took the One Talent you gave me and multiplied it 10 times.’ Then the Lord answered ‘Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things; Enter the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:23.

John is now in glory with his savior, Jesus Christ, whom he served faithfully.

Memorials can be made to one of his unfinished projects, A TV for the church’s social room or to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148.

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Dewayne E. Peters, 53

SALEM – Dewayne E. Peters, 53, of Cunningham Road, died Thursday at 5:08 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, suddenly following a cerebral hemorrhage.

Dewayne was born in Salem on May 21, 1955, the son of Dale and Marlynn Ochkie Peters.

Dewayne was employed at Pusateri Excavating Co. in Calcutta, as a heavy equipment operator for the past 20 years.

He was of Protestant faith. He graduated from United High School, class of 1974. He was a member of Local No. 66 International Operators. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and motorcycling. He was also a member of ABATE.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Crook, whom he married on Feb. 27, 1976; his mother, Marlynn Peters of Salem; a son, Devan Peters of Columbus; a daughter, Chessie Navyac of Lake Tomahawk; a sister, Tammy Mrtzgar of Titusville, Fla.; and three grand dogs, Charley, Harvey and Champ.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Peters in 1999.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Stark Memorial Funeral Home, with the Rev. Doug George officiating. Burial will follow at Columbiana Cemetery.

Contributions for his favorite charities are Alchemy Acres, 1895 Depot Road in Salem, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Columbiana County, 468 Prospect St. in Salem and Columbiana County Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH 44406-0274.

Calling hours will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Stark Memorial Funeral Home and one hour before services on Tuesday.

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Carol H. Valenzisi, 71

BOARDMAN – There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman, with Pastor Robert Ruiz officiating for Carol H. Valenzisi, 71, of Boardman, who passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2009, with her loving family by her side.

Carol will always be remembered and loved by her family and friends.

She was born October 2, 1937, in Warren, the daughter of Otto and Helen (Armstrong) Wilde and was a lifelong area resident.

Carol was a professional dance instructor with the Arthur Murry Dance Studio, a manager at Casual Corners and was vice president and secretary of Miller and Gould Inc., along with being a homemaker.

She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Youngstown, and was a great cook. Carol enjoyed reading her Bible, dancing and fashion, but most of all, she was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother.

She leaves behind to hold on to her memories her husband of over 46 years Frank Valenzisi, whom she married June 9, 1962; three children, Debbie (Steve) Rice of Indianapolis, Tony (Lori) Valenzisi of Boardman and Darla (Robert) Ruiz of Girard; seven grandchildren, Oliver, Peter and Michael Rice, and Jared, Jenna, Jesse, and Gina Ruiz; and a brother, Paul Wilde.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Phyllis Spencer and Mary Lou Shimp.

Friends may call on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, from 5 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m., all at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.

Burial will take place at Resurrection Cemetery.

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Mary Agnes “Sis” Wardle, 91

AUSTINTOWN – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev Msgr. David Rhodes at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Christine Church for Mary Agnes Wardle, 91, who passed away Sunday morning.

Mary was born June 17, 1917, in Youngstown, a daughter of William J. and Mary E. Whalen Thompson.

She was a South High graduate and was the secretary at St. Dominic Church for 30 years.

Mary was a member of St. Christine Church.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Robert A. Wardle, whom she married May 6, 1965; a sister, Margaret J. Saunders of Youngstown; a brother, James R. Thompson; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Jack, Morie, William “Jesse,” Don and Al.

Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Arrangements are by the Fox Funeral Home in Boardman.

Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and send condolences.

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David Ray Winters, 62

BERLIN CENTER – Services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Lane Funeral Home, Canfield Chapel for David Ray Winters, 62, who passed away Saturday afternoon in Hospice House.

David was born March 11, 1947, in Salem, the son of Calvin H. and Doris M. (Lewis) Winters.

He was a truck driver until he had a stroke in 1986.

David was a member of Berlin Center United Methodist Church. His hobbies included building things, working with computers and mowing grass. David was an avid Browns fan and NASCAR/Dale Earnhardt fan.

He leaves his parents of Berlin Center; three children, Jennifer (Jim) Spar of Ellsworth, David Robert Winters of Columbiana and Rebecca (Robert) Dickson of Salineville; two brothers, Calvin Michael Winters of Lake Charles LA, and Timothy James Winters of Lisbon; two sisters, Joanna Zimmerman and Patti Ann (Charles) Rippley, both of Berlin Center; one grandchild, Haley; and 20 nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday morning at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice House in David’s name.

Family and friends may visit www.lanefuneralhomes.com to view this obituary and send condolences.

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