Rudy J. Jurkovich

Rudy J. Jurkovich, age 88 of Massillon, passed away Friday, February 3, 2012 at Chapel Hill Community in Canal Fulton following a period of declining health. He was a lifelong resident of the Massillon area and a retired employee of the U. S. Postal Service in Massillon. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Neva J. (Wagner) Jurkovich of Massillon; three step-daughters, Deborah (Richard) Brenner of Mason, OH, Jill (Jack) Schott of North Lawrence and Cynthia Balyeat of Westfield, IN; a step-son, Jeffrey (Jackie) Balyeat of Cloverdale, IN; 8 grandchildren, Paul Castora, Brittany (Adam) Troy, Christopher Barber, Melinda (Mark) Corradi, Jennifer Kerr, Nicholas Schott, Arielle and Jacob Balyeat; and 4 great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Isaac Troy and Evelyn and Sofia Corradi; and his brother, George (Marianne) Jurkovich of Massillon. Mr. Jurkovich was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia (DiLoreto) Jurkovich in 1972; his daughter, Jennie (Tim) Klett in 2003; his sisters, Josephine (Molly) Wilson, Anna George, and Julia Triplett; brothers, John, Frank, Steve, and Joseph; and 3 siblings who died as infants; his parents, Anthony and Mary Jurkovich; and infant granddaughter, Lindsay Evelyn Schott. A veteran of WWII, Mr. Jurkovich served with the 31st Army Division in New Guinea and the Philippines in the South Pacific. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and many other commendations and was a life member of Disabled American Veterans. He also had been a member of North Lawrence Sportsman's Club for many years, Massillon Aerie Eagles #190 and Grace Family Fellowship. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and cooking and especially loved spending time with his family and friends. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Chapel Hill Community, 12200 Strausser St. N.W., Canal Fulton, OH. Chaplain Sandy Hutchinson will be officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call at Paquelet Funeral Home, 1100 Wales Rd. N.E. Massillon, OH on Sunday from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at Chapel Hill Community on Monday. Memorials may be made to Chapel Hill Community. Messages of comfort and support may be sent to the family at www.paquelet.com. The family will be forever grateful to all the staff at Chapel Hill Community for the constant loving care that Rudy received the past 10 years. Paquelet Funeral Home A Golden Rule Funeral Home (330) 833-3222