Joseph J. Repka

Joseph J. Repka, age 65, of Swanton, Ohio, entered into eternal life, Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at The Flower Hospital in Sylvania, after a valiant 6 month battle with cancer. He was born November 29, 1949 in Adrian, Michigan, to the late Frank and Helen Marie (Ricica) Repka. Joe was a 1967 graduate of the last graduating class out of St. Mary's High School. He attended the University of Toledo for one year, before signing up to serve in the United States Coast Guard. On September 1, 1973, he married Andrea Williams.

Joe farmed the first 10 years following the service, and was a 30-year member of the National Farmers Organization. He worked 32 years for the Swanton Post Office, where he started out as a mail carrier, and retired in January of 2007 as a postal clerk. Everyone in town will remember his smiling face, and genuine and charismatic personality. After his retirement, he drove school bus for the evergreen school district for 6 years.

Joe was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. He was ordained a Deacon on May 14, 1989, and served the Holy Trinity Community as deacon for the next 25 years. He was proud of his Czech heritage, and was requested on several occasions by families to recite the Rosary in Czech in honor of their loved one.

Joe was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Post #306 in Assumption, was a lifelong member of the Catholic Order of Foresters - St. Anthony's Court, and member of The Knights of Columbus, Fulton County United Veterans, and charter member of the Swanton Area Railroad & Model Club.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Andrea; son, Joseph Repka II; siblings, Sister Fran Repka, RSM, Lil (Larry) LaCrosse, Frank (Peggy) Repka, Marie (Charles) Clemens, Rosie (Mel) Case and Patricia Repka; mother-in-law, June Williams; brothers-in-law, Timothy (Marti) and Nathan (Tammy) Williams and David Blanchong; sister-in-law, Nancy Williams; and his aunts, Vi Hutchinson, Lillian Valasek and Lois Shadwald.

Besides his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Blanchong; brother-in-law, Keith Williams; and father-in-law, Jack Williams.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 8th from 2 to 8 p.m. and Monday March 9th from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home, 204 Chestnut St. in Swanton (419.826.2631), where a Catholic War Veterans Service will be held Sunday at 7:00 p.m., and a Vigil service held at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening led by Fr. Patrick Rohen, Captain, U.S. Army (Retired) and Fr. Thomas Leyland. Prayers will begin in the funeral home Tuesday, March 10th at 10:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Assumption, with Fr. Michael Dandurand presiding. Interment, with Military Rites, will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Donations may be made in his honor to Holy Trinity Parish, 2649 US 20, Swanton, OH 43558.

Residence: Swanton, Ohio

Visitation: Sunday, March 8th from 2 to 8 pm and Monday March 9th from 2 to 8 pm at The Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton

Mass of Resurrection: Tuesday, March 10th at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Assumption

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery