USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Bernard Pilarczyk
HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP - Bernard Pilarczyk, 74, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at Geauga Regional Hospital in Claridon Township.
A lifelong area resident, he was born April 6, 1928, in Cleveland, the son of Richard and Katherine (Daniels) Pilarczyk.
He was a masonry contractor for PB Builders and Sons Inc. His sons continue to run the business he founded in 1950. Mr. Pilarczyk never really retired, considering the work he did for the business fun.
He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II.
Mr. Pilarczyk was an avid fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a member of VFW Post 6519 and Aerie Eagles 2261, both of Chardon.
Survivors include his wife, Jerry Pilarczyk; two daughters, Pennie Pilarczyk of Madison, and Wendie Maruna of Orwell; four sons, Ken of Smithville, Benjie of Hambden Township, Randy of Huntsburg Township, and Tim of Rome Township; a brother, George of Middlefield; 20 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Dorothy Lancaster, Julia Patterson and Vickie Koritansky; and four brothers, Walter, Tom, Marty and Edward.
Service is 10 a.m. Saturday at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon.
Burial will be in Chardon Municipal Cemetery, Chardon.
Calling hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Ohio Valley Affiliate, P.O. Box 182039-Dept. 13, Columbus, 43218-2039.
June C. Wertman
HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP - June C. Wertman, 70, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000, at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital.
Born June 28, 1930, in Harold, Ky., she was the daughter of Beckum and Fanny (Cecil) Pennington.
Mrs. Wertman was a homemaker and had lived in Huntsburg Township for 29 years and coming from South Euclid.
She married Eugene Wertman on July 18, 1969, in Cleveland.
She enjoyed animals, gardening and planting trees. When she and her husband built their home, she landscaped the entire yard.
She is survived by her husband; three daughters, Darlene Sparks of Montville Township, Margaret Harps of Mentor, and Annie Maia of Connecticut; five sons, Larry Burks of Huntsburg Township, Gerald Burks of Middlefield Township, Timothy Burks of Claridon Township, Matthew Wertman of Ravenna, and Mark of Tennessee.; 16 grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister, Doris Crispen of Arizona; and a brother, Nathan Pennington of Xenia.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Otis Pennington; and a grandson, Larry Wilson Burks.
Service is 1:30 p.m. Monday at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon. Burial will be at the Huntsburg Township Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Henry Bonk
HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP - Henry Bonk, 88, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, at the Blossom Hills Nursing Home, Huntsburg Township.
He was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Danzig, Germany. He had been an area resident for three years, moving from Batavia, N.Y.
Mr. Bonk worked as a laborer for Doehler-Jarvis Inc., a division of NL Industries, Batavia, N.Y.
He married Josephine Pirro in Erie, Pa., on June 9, 1945.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Batavia, N.Y., and enjoyed woodworking, especially cabinet making, and rose gardening.
Mr. Bonk was a devoted grandfather.
Survivors include his son, John of Chardon; two grandsons, Christian and Aaron Bonk; and three sisters, Grace Conlon of Albion, N.Y., Alice Koziol of Findlay, and Viola Ostroski of Batavia, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his wife on Feb. 17, 1991; his parents; and a brother, Donald.
Service is 2 p.m. Saturday at the Gilmartin Funeral Home, 329-333 W. Main St., Batavia, N.Y., with the Rev. Eugene Slomba of Sacred Heart Church officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Batavia, N.Y.
Calling hours are noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1689 E. 115th St., Cleveland 44106.
Edna Mae Nieminen
HUNTSBURG - Edna Mae Nieminen, 93, formerly of North Ridge Road East, Ashtabula, died Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, at the Blossom Hill Care Center.
Mrs. Nieminen was born July 21, 1909, in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Robert and Mae (Hewitson) Gillars. She moved to Ashtabula in 1944.
She was a devoted dance instructor for 70 years and was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She also enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include her son, Thomas G. Herrick of Chagrin Falls; two grandchildren, Craig Herrick and Kristen Anderson; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Reid Herrick; her second husband, Edwin Nieminen, on Feb. 8, 1998; a stepsister; and her parents.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4901 Main Ave., Ashtabula, with the Rev. Barbara Johnson, rector, officiating.
No calling hours will be observed.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ashtabula YMCA, 263 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula, or to the Living Memorial Fund at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
Russel L. Gergen
NEWBURY TOWNSHIP - Russel L. Gergen, 87, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002, at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital.
He was born Feb. 15, 1915, in Roosevelt, Minn., to John and Mary (Weneno) Gergen. He lived in Newbury Township since 1948, moving there from Cleveland. He married Marybelle Hayton June 29, 1940, in Lodi, Ohio.
Mr. Gergen was a designer, engineer and builder of special and unique gauge-measuring machines. He attended Fenn College in Cleveland for two years and started his career as the sales manager for the Pipe Machinery Co. in Cleveland during World War II. He then founded and was the owner of the former Tool Crib Inc. in Euclid. He owned the company for more than 20 years.
He enjoyed traveling, especially by car. He also liked hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania, New York and Canada. He had been active with the Newbury Boy Scouts of America.
Survivors include his wife, Marybelle; a daughter, Mary Lee Brezina of Newbury Township; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jack Gergen; and a sister, Lorraine Gergen.
Funeral is 2 p.m. Thursday at the Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon, officiated by The Rev. Pastor Brian Bagley-Bonner of Newbury United Community Church. Burial is in Munn Cemetery, Newbury Township.
Visitation is noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Newbury United Community Church, 14916 Auburn Road, Newbury, 44065.
Clayton Daniel Butcher
NEWBURY TOWNSHIP - Clayton Daniel Butcher, 22, died Monday, Aug. 12, 2002.
He was born March 11, 1980, in Claridon Township and had lived in Newbury since 1983.
Mr. Clayton was a masonry worker with his father’s company, Clayton Masonry, Newbury. He also worked at many other jobs in the Newbury area.
Mr. Clayton was a member of St. Helen’s Church, Newbury.
He enjoyed books, poetry, camping, music, art and bowling.
Survivors include his father, Jerry of Garrettsville; his mother, Teresa “Terri” (Paprocki) Butcher of Newbury; four siblings, Carrie, Jessica and Julie Butcher, and Adam Kirsch, all at home; paternal grandmother, Diana Butcher of Newbury; and maternal grandmother, Georgia Paprocki of Newbury Township.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Charles Butcher, and maternal grandfather, Chester Paprocki.
Service is 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Helen’s Church, 12060 Kinsman Road, Newbury Township, with the Rev. Jay McPhillips officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Munson Township.
Calling hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Ritondaro Funeral Home, 126 South St., Chardon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family for the purpose of educating others about Schizophrenia.
Kathleen M. Krizner
NEWBURY TOWNSHIP - Kathleen Marie Krizner, 57, died Monday, June 11, 2001, at her home.
She was born March 3, 1944, in Cleveland, the daughter of John and Rosemary (Henderson) Brent and was a lifelong Newbury Township resident.
Mrs. Krizner worked as an in-home nanny for nine children during a 20-year period.
She enjoyed flowers, crafts and gardening, and was a lifelong member of St. Helen's Church, Newbury Township.
Survivors include her husband John, whom she married June 25, 1966, at St. Helen's in Newbury; her sons, Timothy and Daniel, of Newbury; a grandson, Caleb Thomas; her mother of Newbury; and four brothers, Brian of Pierpont Township, Terrance of Monroe Township, and Dennis and Timothy of Newbury Township.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1985.
Service is 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Helen's Church, 12060 Kinsman Road, Newbury Township with the Rev. William Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Munn Cemetery, Newbury Township.
Calling hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Ritondaro Funeral Home, 126 South St., Chardon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Project Sunshine, European Adoptive Consultants, 9800 Boston Road, North Royalton 44133.
