Obituaries
Joseph Margetiak
January 31, 2021
Joseph “Joe” Steven Margetiak, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2021, at the age of 66, at his residence in Norwalk, OH with his devoted wife, Charlene, at his side.
His battle with cancer showed his courage in facing life challenges with humor and a wonderful smile. Despite the pain, Joe came out a hero and stayed strong until the end. He was born on November 28, 1954, in Windber, Pennsylvania, to Joseph (deceased) and Julia (Soho) Margetiak. Joe was a 1972 graduate of Shade High School, Cairnbrook, PA and went on to serve honorably with the United States Air Force as a Czechoslovakian Linguist stationed in Rimbach, Germany. He met the love of his life, Charlene, while they were both studying Czechoslovakian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. She chased him half way around the world (Rimbach) and back again until he married her in 1977. He graduated summa cum laude from The Pennsylvania State University with an Associate degree in Wildlife Technology, Edinboro State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree from Wayne State University in Industrial Health, Hygiene and Safety. “Safety Joe” devoted his career to protecting others from industrial accidents as an investigator with OSHA and as the environmental health and safety coordinator with Tenneco, Inc., Milan, OH. Joe was an accomplished photographer and loved taking candid photos of people. His recent hobbies included bird watching, beekeeping, and shooting sports. As a nature enthusiast, he became a bald eagle nest monitor and spent time as a volunteer supporting environmental and conservation efforts with local park districts and conservation clubs. Joe could find the humor in any situation, enjoyed working with his hands, and would stop what he was doing to help others. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Charlene “Char;” son, Stefan (Cathy) Margetiak; daughter, Cori (Zachary) Stiles; two grandsons, Kian Margetiak and David Stiles; mother, Julia Margetiak; sisters Janis (Ray) Krebs II, and Judi (Robert) Mohn; his father-in-law Milt, and many loving brothers/sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Calling hours are from 4-6 pm on Monday, February 8 at Evans Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Norwalk, OH. The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center of Sandusky and Stein Hospice of Sandusky.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870; Erie County Conservation League, P.O. Box 476, Sandusky, OH 44870-0476 or Fitchville Conservation League, 2623 Jennings Road, New London, OH 44851. Condolences may be sent to the family at Norwalkfuneral.com. Friends and relatives are invited to celebrate Joe’s life this summer at a date to be determined.
Joseph Margetiak
01/31/2021
Joseph “Joe” Steven Margetiak, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2021, at the age of 66, at his residence in Norwalk, OH with his devoted wife, Charlene, at his side.
His battle with cancer showed his courage in facing life challenges with humor and a wonderful smile. Despite the pain, Joe came out a hero and stayed strong until the end. He was born on November 28, 1954, in Windber, Pennsylvania, to Joseph (deceased) and Julia (Soho) Margetiak. Joe was a 1972 graduate of Shade High School, Cairnbrook, PA and went on to serve honorably with the United States Air Force as a Czechoslovakian Linguist stationed in Rimbach, Germany. He met the love of his life, Charlene, while they were both studying Czechoslovakian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. She chased him half way around the world (Rimbach) and back again until he married her in 1977. He graduated summa cum laude from The Pennsylvania State University with an Associate degree in Wildlife Technology, Edinboro State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree from Wayne State University in Industrial Health, Hygiene and Safety. “Safety Joe” devoted his career to protecting others from industrial accidents as an investigator with OSHA and as the environmental health and safety coordinator with Tenneco, Inc., Milan, OH. Joe was an accomplished photographer and loved taking candid photos of people. His recent hobbies included bird watching, beekeeping, and shooting sports. As a nature enthusiast, he became a bald eagle nest monitor and spent time as a volunteer supporting environmental and conservation efforts with local park districts and conservation clubs. Joe could find the humor in any situation, enjoyed working with his hands, and would stop what he was doing to help others. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Charlene “Char;” son, Stefan (Cathy) Margetiak; daughter, Cori (Zachary) Stiles; two grandsons, Kian Margetiak and David Stiles; mother, Julia Margetiak; sisters Janis (Ray) Krebs II, and Judi (Robert) Mohn; his father-in-law Milt, and many loving brothers/sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Calling hours are from 4-6 pm on Monday, February 8 at Evans Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Norwalk, OH. The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center of Sandusky and Stein Hospice of Sandusky.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870; Erie County Conservation League, P.O. Box 476, Sandusky, OH 44870-0476 or Fitchville Conservation League, 2623 Jennings Road, New London, OH 44851. Condolences may be sent to the family at Norwalkfuneral.com. Friends and relatives are invited to celebrate Joe’s life this summer at a date to be determined.