HUBBARD – Joseph James Vukovich, Sr., 94, entered into eternal rest on September 13, 2014, at Omni Manor Health Care Community in Youngstown, Ohio.

Joe was born October 3, 1919, in Coalburg, Ohio, to George and Mary (Antolich) Vukovich. He attended Hubbard High School and lived most of his life in Hubbard, Ohio. He worked for 35 years at Sawhill Tubular Division in Wheatland, PA, from where he retired as a general foreman in 1981.

On September 6, 1947, Joe married Marie G. Kunovic, at Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Catholic Church, in Youngstown, who died December 5, 2012. They were long-time residents of Hubbard, moving to Drummond Avenue in 1950.

Joe will be greatly missed by his family, especially his three children, Joseph J., Jr. (Ruth) Vukovich of Hubbard, Joan (Joseph) Guido of Cortland, and William Vukovich of Charleston, SC; his four grandchildren, Joseph R. (Lauren Dunne) Vukovich of Rutherford, NJ, Christopher Guido of Brooklyn, NY, Allison (Tim) Miller of Moon Township, PA, and Patrick Vukovich of Los Angeles, CA; and his two great-grandsons, Isaac and Hayden Miller. Joe is also survived by his younger brother Paul (Terri) Vukovich of Fayetteville, NC, and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marie of 65 years and six siblings; Pete Vukovich, Mike Vukovich, Pave Vukovich, Anne Zitnik, Katie Rappach and Jenny Vukovich.

Joe was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, enlisting in 1940 and being honorably discharged in 1945 as a Sergeant First Class. Joe was stationed in Iceland for 18 months. In his five years of service, Joe received a Good Conduct Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge Medal, an American Defense Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star, a European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Stars and a Bronze Star Ribbon.

Joe and Marie were active members of St. Patrick Church in Hubbard where for many years they could be seen weekly on the corner of Main Street and Park Avenue changing scripture passages on the church's lighted sign. Joe served as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was a proud Croatian-American and a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) St. George Lodge 66, in Youngstown for 67 years. He helped with the building of the current lodge on Vestal Road.
Joe loved to bowl, both at in a league at Thornton Lanes and representing Lodge 66 at various tournaments. As an avid golfer, he was on four Sawhill golf championship teams and won four Canadian CFU singles golf championships. He had a personal best of three holes-in-one! He shared his golf expertise with his grandchildren. Joe also loved polka music and dancing.

Family and friends may call Monday, September 15 from 5 to 8 pm at the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral Home and also on Tuesday from 11:00 to noon at St. Patrick Church.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Patrick Church at noon.

The family would like to extend special thanks for the care and compassion Joe received from the staff at Omni Manor where he resided since 2012.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that material tributes be sent to the Activities Department at Omni Manor, 3200 Vestal Rd., Youngstown, OH 44509 or Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Youngstown, OH 44512.

Internment will be at Hubbard Union Cemetery.

Please visit www.krcummins.com to view this obituary and to send condolences to the family.

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