Steve Sawzin, 90, Pearl Harbor Survivor

He was born February 26, 1921 in Lorain and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.

Steve graduated from the Lorain High School 1939B class. He served with the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1939 to 1941 and worked on the construction of the Hoover Dam. He enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor and survived the Japanese attack of the US fleet. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Litchfield destroyer as a Machinist Mate First Class. He was awarded the American Defense Ribbon with 1 Star, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Area Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He served with the Navy from Feb. 14, 1941 to April 2, 1947.

Steve worked as a stationary engineer at Thew Shovel in Lorain for 7 years and later at National Tube/US Steel in Lorain for 29 years retiring in 1983. He also was a bus driver for Clearview Schools for 9 years on bus #4.

Steve was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township and the church Holy Name Society where he was past vice-president. In 1986, he was honored as the Holy Name Society Man-of-the-Year. He was a life member of DAV Chapter #20 of Lorain where he served on the funeral honor guard. He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Knights of Columbus Council #637 of Lorain and VFW Post #451 of Lorain.

Steve enjoyed gardening, music, loved spending time with his family and was an avid Cleveland Indians fan.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Julia Sawzin (nee Horvath), children Stephen Sawzin (Dorothy) of Wilmington, Martin Sawzin of Holliston, Massachusetts, Mary Barnard (Myles) of Wixom, Michigan and Terese Masi (Anthony) of Gahanna, grandchildren Lyra, Elizabeth, Samuel and Michael Sawzin, Zachary and Jacob Masi and Mollie Barnard. He was preceded in death by his parents Michael and Tessie Sawczyn (nee Schulik), infant sister Mary Sawczyn, sister Sophie Poweska and brothers John Sawzin and Eli and Harry Sawczyn.

The family will receive friends Friday 4-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain where the St. Vincent Holy Name Society and Altar & Rosary Society will recite the rosary Friday at 4:30 pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9:00 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd., Elyria Twp. The Rev. James Ols, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain where the Disabled American Veterans Louis Paul Proy Chapter #20 of Lorain will conduct military honors.

Memorial contributions can be made to New Life Hospice Foundation, 3700 Kolbe Rd., Lorain, OH 44053 or St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH. 44035.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.