Thomas C. Ivan, 80, Hobbies included gardening, golf, and carpentry

He was born in Lorain on June 28, 1924 and had been a resident of Lorain since 1926, coming from Amherst.

Mr. Ivan was a 1942 graduate of Lorain High School. He went on to serve in the United States Army during World War II as a staff Sergeant with General George S. Patton’s Third Army. He was assigned as a communications chief with the 1st Battalion of the 10th infantry and fulfilled duty assignments in Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was the recipient of six Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, an the Good Conduct Medal.

A parishioner of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lorain since 1948, he was employed as an inspector for the Fruehauf Trailer Company of Avon Lake, the Tappan Heating and Air Conditioning Company Of Elyria, and most recently by Western Enterprises of Elyria.

Tom was a member of the American Slovak Club as well as Holy Trinity Lodge Branch #533 of the Jednota whose hobbies included gardening, golf, carpentry, hunting, and fishing. Additional interests included reading with a special focus on nature and history.

Mr. Ivan is survived by his son: Thomas J. Ivan of Lorain, daughters: Andrea Mackin of Westlake, and Marlene Darby of Lorain.

He was preceded in death by his wife: Anastasia (nee Cyran) in 1996, by his parents: John and Mary (nee Mihalek) Ivan, by brothers: Steven and John, and by sisters: Anna, Mary, Paulina, and Agnes.

Visitation will be Friday from 6-9 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel-3224 Broadway-Lorain. Funeral Services will be followed by the celebration of funeral mass at 9 a.m. in Nativity B.V.M. Catholic Church-1454 Lexington Ave.-Lorain, Rev. Robert Glepko, pastor of the parish will preside. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery-Lorain where military honors will be conducted by officers and members of Louis Paul Proy Chapter #20 of the Disabled American Veterans.

The family suggests memorials in his memory to either Nativity B.V.M. Catholic Church-418 West 15th St.-Lorain, OH 44052, or to the American Heart Association-P.O. Box 182039-Dept. 013-Columbus, OH 434218-2039.