John A. Vilevac Jr.

John A. Vilevac, Jr., 73 of Grafton passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2020, from complications of a stroke he had in 2016 and the coronavirus at O'Neill Healthcare in North Ridgeville.  He was born in Lorain on July 29, 1946, to John and Margaret (nee Martincak) Vilevac and had resided in Lorain, Elyria and Grafton.
He was a graduate of Clearview High School Class of 1964.  He had worked at Fruehauf Trailer in Avon Lake, Stanadyne (Moen) in Elyria and the Grafton Correctional Institution in Grafton from which he retired in August 2006.  He had been an auxiliary deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff's Department in the early 80's and had graduated Police Training and was employed part-time in Grafton and West Salem.
He attended his sons' football and baseball games at Midview High School and Ashland College and their Hot Stove games with Grafton Hot Stove.  He enjoyed attending his grandchildrens' sporting events including gymnastics, basketball and baseball.  He enjoyed working in his yard,  his swimming pool, casino trips, his 28 cruises and especially classic car cruises.  He loved his classic cars over the years, his 1981 El Camino, his 1969 Oldsmobile Regency 98 Convertible and his 1967 Pontiac Gran Prix.
He was a  member of the Elyria Moose Club and the Golden Moose.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Karen (nee Shaffstall), whom he married on February 24, 1968, his son, John A. Vilevac, III, and his wife, Michelle, of Elyria, his daughter-in-law, Britt Vilevac, of Sheffield Village, his grandchildren, Jenna, Jonathan, Carter and Camryn and his step-grandchildren, Alexander and Sofia Thompson, his sister, Patricia Jackson, of Elyria, sister-in-law, Amy Stafford and her husband, Bobby Stafford,  of Alliance, brother-in-law, Allan Shaffstall and his wife, Jennifer Shaffstall, of Ellyria and 26 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Brian M. Vilevac, in 2018, his parents, John and Margaret (nee Martincak) Vilevac, his sisters, Peggy Jaskulski (Eddie Jaskulski), Mary Ann Knautz (William Knautz), Rose Kent, brother-in-law, Ernest Jackson, Mother-in-Law, Ann Shaffstall (nee Kerekes) and brother-in-law, Carl Shaffstall.
The Vilevac Family want to thank the nurses, STNA's, Physical Therapists, O'Neill Hospice and other staff at O'Neill Healthcare in North Ridgeville for their compassionate care of John for the past 3 1/2 years.  We also want to thank the pastor and members of the North Eaton Christian Church for their love and support of our family with their cards, phone calls, personal visits and especially their prayers.
Private services will be held at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon.  A celebration of his life will be held at a later date due to the coronavirus.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the family for the grandchildrens' education can be sent to:  Karen Vilevac, c/o Duke Funeral Home, Inc.,1021 Main St., Grafton, OH 44044.  On-line condolences may be left at www.dukefuneralhome.com
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John A. Vilevac Jr., please visit our floral store.