Jack Franklin Kohl Sr.

Jack Franklin Kohl, Sr., devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away April 24, 2011 after a brief illness.

Born on March 28, 1924, Jack was a lifelong resident of Ravenna, Ohio. Jack was a 1942 graduate of Charlestown High School and a 1949 graduate of Kent State University. He served in the Armed Forces in World War II. He served with the Army Air Corps from 1943-1945 as a ball turn gunner on a B-17 warplane. He flew 17 missions while stationed in England and survived three crash landings during the war. After the war, Jack returned home to marry the love of his life, Judy Frank in 1948 and raise his family.

Jack started the Jack Kohl Agency, Realty and Insurance in 1954. He was always the man with a smile and a positive attitude in town. He served as Ravenna Twp. trustee for 24 years. He always joked that the most money he ever spent on his ``campaign' was $3 for matches with his name on them. Jack retired in 1990 to enjoy his passion for gardening and spending time in the Florida Keys and watching his grandchildren living life large. He enjoyed his large family creating many family memories with annual trips with the entire family camping in Maine to the annual winter get away weekend to Maumee Bay. His backyard pool served as a main gathering place for all friends and family in the summer months who all enjoyed the bounty from his prolific garden.

Jack also served as president of the Portage County Real Estate Association. He was a long time member of the Elks Club and Kiwanis Club. He was a devoted member of his life long church Immaculate Conception of Ravenna. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his friendly and generous attitude toward everyone he met.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Judy. Also surviving are his six children: daughters, Julie (Charlie) Bailey, Susie, Libby Clawson, and sons, Jack (Heidi),Tim (Lucinda), and Mike (Angela) Kohl. He leaves his eight grandchildren: Chas Bailey, Jake (Charity) and Jarrod (Carmela) Kohl, Kaylyn (Matt) Kane, Alec, Jocelyn, Elise, and Jace Kohl, and one great-grandson, Parker Kane; also survived by sister, Jean Anne Pelusi and her husband John Pelusi, Sr. of Boardman, Ohio, along with brothers-in-law, Burt (Sue) Frank of Ravenna and Jim (Ruth) Frank of Jacksonville, Fla.; along with 16 nieces and nephews and numerous grandnieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main St., Ravenna. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend John-Michael Lavelle on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 409 W. Main St., Ravenna. Private burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Robinson Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 6847 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna, Ohio 44266 or National Parkinson Foundation (Research Fund), P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.

Wood-Kortright-Borkoski

330-296-6436