Joseph Joachim Girz

Joseph Joachim Girz died peacefully the morning of June 14, 2012 after a prolonged illness. He was the third son of Regina (Burkhard) and Oscar Baptist Girz, born in Tiffin, Ohio, on August 16, 1923, shortly after their immigration to America. Growing up in Tiffin, Joseph attended St. Joseph Catholic Grade School and graduated from Calvert High School in 1940. Following two years of service in the Army Air Corps, in which he accomplished 57 combat missions over Europe as a radio-operator in a B-26 Marauder aircraft, Mr. Girz attended Case Technical College in Cleveland receiving a bachelor's degree in Engineering Management in 1949. Citations for his military service included the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters; the European - African - Middle Eastern (EAME) Theatre Medal; the Presidential Unit Citation; and the French government's Croix de Guerre avec Palm (Cross of War with Palm). After a chance meeting at her grandmother's funeral in 1944, Joseph courted Jean C. Yeager for several years - and at long distance due to World War II. Mr. & Mrs. Girz were married July 31, 1948 in a ceremony in the bride's hometown parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fremont, Ohio before settling down in Lorain, Ohio. Mr. Girz has resided in Lorain for the past 60 years where he has been a devoted member and lay minister of St. Peter's Catholic Parish. Over his 37 year career, Mr Girz practiced engineering in several companies in Northeast Ohio, earning a certification from the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers and a Master in Business Administration along the way. He worked at Hill Acme, Fruehauf Trailer, Ross & Son's Plumbing, American Ship Building and Lorain County Community College before retiring in 1986. Joe stayed involved in many community service activities including the Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Lorain Fireworks Committee, and the Lorain International Festival. An avid traveler and photographer, Joe's work was exhibited in shows in the local region for a number of years including the Cleveland Art Museum. He was perhaps best recognized locally as 'Dough Boy Joe', the iconic logo for Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Bakery. He is survived by Jean, his wife of 63 years; his children Cecilia Girz (Elmer Armstrong) of Boulder, CO; Barbara Girz (Bruce Mintz) of Mountain Lakes, NJ; Teresa (Tim Kiedrowski) of Lorain, OH; Thomas (Kimberly Dehler) of Dayton, OH; and Martha Girz (David Smith) of Rockville, MD; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Adolph and Adelbert, his grandson Sean Griffith, and a nephew Albert Girz. Funeral arrangements will be handled by the Walter A. Frey Funeral Home, 700 W. Erie Ave, Lorain, Ohio 44052. Visitation will be held Monday, June 18, from 2-4 pm and 5-8 pm in the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to www.freyfuneralhome.com. Prayers will be said on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 9:30 am in the funeral home; a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 3655 Oberlin Ave, Lorain, Ohio 44052. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain; with full military honors by Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20, D.A.V., Lorain. Memorial contributions may be made to St Peter's Catholic Church, Lorain, Ohio.

Service:

10 AM, Tuesday, June 19, 2012

St. Peter's Catholic Church; 3655 Oberlin Avenue; Lorain, Ohio 44052



Visitation:

2-4 PM and 5-8 PM, Monday, June 18, 2012

Walter A. Frey Funeral Home; 700 West Erie Avenue; Lorain, Ohio 44052

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