Leo F. Bolko Jr.

1919 - 2014

Leo F. Bolko Jr., 95 and a resident of Mentor, Ohio for 55 years, died Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Inn at Belden Village, Canton, Ohio. He was born April 19, 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of the late Leopold and Stephania Bolko. Leo was a master machinist for the former Chase Brass & Copper Company, now the BP Company, retiring after 33 years. While there, he was instrumental in forming the first Chase Brass & Copper workers' union. In Mentor, Leo and his wife were charter and founding members of the Mentor Newcomers' Club. For a short time, his family resided in Parma, Ohio where they owned and operated the Brookpark Motel. After his retirement, Leo consulted in Atlanta, Georgia before moving back to Mentor after his wife died in 1981. Leo also enjoyed his time as both a PTA president at Ridge Junior High and head of the Holy Name Society at St. Mary of the Assumption while his children were young. An avid sports fan, Leo held seasons' tickets to the Cleveland Browns for 25 years. Other sports interests included golfing, bowling and serving as a youth baseball coach for multiple years in Mentor City leagues. Both Leo and his wife enjoyed traveling and flew frequently throughout the United States. The "golden hills of San Francisco" and the beaches of Hawaii were constant favorites. After his wife's death, Leo travelled extensively throughout Europe with his daughter and son-in-law, both retired employees of Delta Air Lines, Inc., spending many a holiday in a different European capital city. Survivors include his children: Rodney (Dorothy) Bolko of Painesville, Ohio, James (Christine) Bolko of Vallejo, CA, Patty (Johnny) Blackmon of Hilton Head, SC, Lee (Karen) Bolko of North Canton, Ohio, and multiple grand and great-grandchildren. Leo was also preceded in death by his two sisters, Stella Novotny and Jean Drabek. A memorial service will be 11 am Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Ohio. The family will receive friends 6- 8 pm Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH. 44060. Inurnment will be in Mentor Cemetery, Mentor, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lake County Humane Society, 7564 Tyler Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060 or CrossRoads Hospice 3743 Boettler Oaks Dr. Green, OH. 44685. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.