Joe Gorka Obituary

Joe Gorka attended Ontario High School in Mansfield, OH. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Joe Gorka.

Graduation Year	Class of 1961
Date of Passing	Jan 12, 2022
About	Joseph "Joe" John Gorka Jr. passed away Jan. 12, 2022, as a result of complications due to Covid. Joe was born December 26, 1943, in Lorain Ohio. He was the son of Joseph J. Gorka and Vera Marie (Griggs) Gorka. Most who knew him in his younger years will remember him as Joedy. Joe graduated from Ontario High School in 1961, which was the first class to graduate from the new High School building. He completed his education at the Ohio State University. Joe served in the United States Air Force where he worked as a military police officer. He guarded B-52 bombers for the Strategic Air Command at Wright Patterson Airbase about the time of the Cuban missile crisis. Joe was stationed in Europe and, also served along the DMZ in South Korea at a time when few were aware of US involvement Vietnam. Joe went on to serve in the Ohio Air National Guard for 20 years, during which he had the opportunity to guard Airforce One when President Ronald Reagan came through Mansfield. Joe spent his professional career working as an Industrial Engineer, retiring from Voisard Manufacturing in 2009. In retirement Joe maintained a consulting business in his field of expertise called Skymanhill Enterprises and was a member of APICS and SME. Joe was a devout born-again Christian. He was a servant of the Lord with a heart for all people. Joe spent a lifetime engaged in creative craft work along with his wife Lena. In recent years, Joe had rededicated himself to a pursuit of landscape painting. Surviving to grieve his loss are his loving wife, Lena Gorka, as well as siblings Marilyn (Ed) Trease, Tim (Jane) Gorka, Suzie (Jeff) Hape. Joe was preceded in death by his parents Joseph J. Gorka and Vera Marie Gorka as well as siblings Gloria Jean Gorka, Dave Gorka and Ron Gorka.