Bernard A. Jalowiec, 85, WWII Veteran & Loving Husband

He was born in Elyria, Ohio on February 11, 1927 to Roman and Mary Jalowiec and had resided in Elyria, Lorain , and Chattanooga, Tennessee before finally returning to Lorain in 1991.

Upon his graduation from Elyria High School in June of 1945, Mr. Jalowiec entered the United States Army. He fulfilled duty assignments as a Sergeant attached to the 3191st Engineer Base Depot Company in Germany until the time of his Honorable Discharge in November of 1946 following his attendance at the Nuremberg Trials. He was the recipient of the Army Occupation Medal (Germany) as well as the World War II Victory Medal.

Bernard met Dorothy Gorksi in 1943 while they were both working at General Industries Company. On March 10, 1944 he promised to share his life with her as she became the love of his life. They were married during ceremonies performed in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on October 27, 1945. Bernie was always the ever-faithful and dedicated husband to Dorothy and an always loving father to his daughters Nancy Mazur and Karen Losh.

After serving his country, he spent most of his life living in Lorain and was initially employed as a Production Control Manager for the Thew Shovel Company. Following the firm’s purchase by the Koehring Companies, Whitey was transferred to Chattanooga , Tennessee and continued serving in a variety of production management capacities there. Following 32 years of service with Koehring, he was ultimately charged with the task of closing the plant; he moved his career to Erlanger General Hospital in Chattanooga where he worked as a Supply Distribution Manager for the next eight years.

Upon his retirement from Erlanger, Bernie returned to Lorain to become the Primary Managing Partner in the Brentwood Golf Club in Grafton , Ohio . After more than a dozen successful years overseeing the daily operations of the golf course, he finally began to enjoy the full benefits of retirement when the sale of Brentwood was completed in 2003.

As a young family man Whitey was always civic minded and participated vigorously in Lorain ’s Jaycees earning significant leadership positions and recognition. He began his community service as a member of the Lorain Junior Chamber of Commerce rising quickly to the positions of leadership. During his more than six years of participation, he was elected Ohio Jaycee District Vice President (1960-61), Ohio Jaycee State Director (1959-60), Lorain Jaycee President (1958-59), Lorain Jaycee Local 1st Vice President (1957-58), Lorain Jaycee Secretary (1956-57) and Lorain Jaycee Board Member (1954-56), As a result of his dedication and key contributions to the community and the Jaycee Program, he was selected as Lorain’s Young Man of the Year in 1960 and Lorain’s Man of the Year in 1961. On February 20, 1961 he was recognized as the recipient of the Jaycee’s Distinguished Service Award and was presented with the Elsie Award at the conclusion of his term as Jaycee’s President in 1958.

At the age of 33 Bernie was appointed to be Chairman of the Lorain Mayor's Urban Renewal Committee and led several key initiatives aimed at improving the community’s living environment. During that same period he was active in the Lorain International Toastmasters Organization where he held the offices of Vice President in 1959 and President in 1962.

Mr. Jalowiec was an active parishioner of the former St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lorain as well as St. Jude Catholic Church in Chattanooga . He served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council in Chattanooga and held status as a 4th Degree Knight in the Lt. McManus Assembly 0811 of Avon, Ohio . Bernie previously served as a member and past President of the St. Stanislaus Holy Name Society where he was recognized as its Man of the Year in 2000. In addition, Whitey served as a Eucharistic Minister and Usher at St. Stanislaus.

Bernie was a member of the Elyria Polish Club, Lorain AMVETS Post # 47, Amherst VFW Post # 1662, and Elmer Johnson Post # 118 of the American Legion. He held membership in Elyria Eagles and the United Polish Club of Lorain as well.

In addition to his wife Dorothy, he is survived by daughters Nancy Mazur of Amherst and Karen Losh of Pensacola , Florida , along with grandchildren Brian, Melissa, Trisha, and Shannon, and great grandchildren Jacob, Francesca, Ryan, Cole, Karina, Isabella, Aryana, Hailey, Zaria , and Adriana. Additional survivors include his sister Helen Zahorec of Lorain and his brother Roman Jalowiec, Jr. residing in North Ridgeville .

He was preceded in death by his parents Roman and Mary (nee Valcoviecz) Jalowiec, and by brothers Stanley, Walter, Henry, and Edward.

Visitation will be Sunday December 9th from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain . Funeral services will begin in the funeral chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Monday and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter – 3501 Oberlin Avenue . The Reverend Craig Hovanec, Pastor of the parish will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery where joint military honors will be conducted by VFW Post # 451 and American Legion Post # 30 both of Lorain .

Memorial contributions are encouraged to the charity of the donor’s choice.

To share your memories and condolences with the Jalowiec Family, please visit www.gluvna.net.