Michael Ferenec, 71, U.S. Marines Veteran

Born in Cleveland on April 6, 1949, Mike had been a life-long resident of Lorain County. He was a graduate of Brookside High School where he was a member of the Cardinal varsity football team.

Following graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he fulfilled duty assignments as a Corporal following deployment to southeast Asia. Mike was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Viet Nam Service Medal, the Viet Nam Campaign Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

Upon his return from the military in 1971, he joined CenturyTel where he was employed as a special circuit engineer supervisor; he retired from the communications company in 2007. He most recently worked as a driver for Wesleyan Senior Living.

Regarded as an avid fan of all Cleveland professional sports franchises, he enjoyed woodworking, solving crossword puzzles, and vegetable gardening in his free time. In addition, he enjoyed fall trips to Amish Country with in-laws Karin and Don Kissel as well as additional Amish vacation sojourns with his grandchildren and a multitude of trips to Kalahari Resort. Despite those plentiful outside interests, none of them could surpass the enjoyment he received from spending time with his family and being part of his grandchildren’s lives, each unique in their own way. He cherished watching Family Feud with his grandson Matt, getting help planting green beans in the garden from granddaughter Amber, witnessing the energy and humorous stories of grandson Dilion, and being heralded as grandson Nate’s biggest athletic booster and number one fan.

Mike is survived by his wife of fifty two years Kathy (nee Pavlich), son Matthew (Misti) of Vermilion, and daughter Miranda (Eric) Maynard of Elyria. He also leaves the aforementioned grandchildren Matt, Amber, Dilion, and Nate, brother Joe (Susan) Ferenec of Sheffield Village, and sisters Mary Ann (Art) Powell residing in Tennessee, and Rose Marie (Bill) Morgan of Elyria.

He was preceded in death by his parents Augustine and Rita (nee Link) Ferenec and sister Rita Price.

Visitation will be today (Wednesday) from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. All attendees will be required to wear facial coverings and visitors must follow the Covid-19 protocols posted at the funeral chapel entrance and throughout the building. Funeral services will commence in the funeral chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 in St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish with Reverend John C. Retar, pastor of the church presiding. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by Amvets Post # 32 of Elyria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to either the Wounded Warrior Project or the American Cancer Society.

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