Leon J. "Skip" Ponikvar

Leon "Skip" J. Ponikvar, 78, of Aurora, entered eternal rest Tuesday evening, October 31, 2017 at the Cleveland Clinic. He was born on April 3, 1939 to the late Leon and Mary (Kozitko) Ponikvar.
Skip served 4 years in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman onboard USS CHILTON. He also retired as a Lieutenant of the Eastlake Police Department after 24 years of duty.
He will be missed by his loving wife of 47 years, Kathleen (nee Wedding) of Aurora; son, John R. Ponikvar of VA; daughter, Jennifer (Tim) Backovsky of Eastlake; sister, Daniele "Donna" (nee Ponikvar) Blessing of Aurora; brother-in-law, Gregory (Lois) Wedding of Painesville; special daughter, Olga Messier of VA; grandchildren, Benjamin, and Emily Backovsky, Joseph Ponikvar Jr., Anastasia Kudryavtseva; nieces, Kelly Ulrich, and Michelle Chernikoff; and many friends.
Skip is preceded in death by his parents; sons, James Lodge II, Joseph F. Ponikvar, and James D. Ponikvar; and brother-in-law, Charles Blessing.
Family and friends will be received 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5 at Best Funeral Home, 15809 Madison Rd., Middlefield.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 6 at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 18205 Chillicothe Rd., Bainbridge. Please meet at the Church.
Skip's final resting place will be in All Souls Cemetery, Chardon.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Best Funeral Home, 440-632-0818.
Online condolences may be sent at www.bestfunerals.com.