George Zokle

AUSTINTOWN — George A. Zokle Jr., 82, passed away, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at his home, surrounded by family.

George was born Aug. 5, 1943, in Youngstown, a son of the late George Sr. and Catherine Zokle. 

Growing up, George was an altar boy at St. Lucy Parish for 11 years and worked as a groundskeeper at the church, saving money to pay for his college tuition. He graduated from Ursuline High School at age 16 in 1960 and earned his five-year Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Youngstown University afterward. 

George was a well-known baseball player in the Youngstown area, playing in Double A and attending training camps with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees. The Yankees were his favorite team and his favorite player was Mickey Mantle. Although he was primarily known for his pitching, he played every position except first base.

He was very dedicated to his Catholic faith and was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Austintown for 52 years, where he served as an usher and Eucharistic minister. He was also a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus. 

He was celebrated as an accomplished civil engineer around the state of Ohio, providing his services to the state, the City of Niles, Campbell and Struthers, to name a few locations, securing notable funding on numerous projects. He was also devoted to improving housing in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. He started his own engineering firm and continued his career with CT Consultants from 1988 until his retirement. 

He enjoyed golfing on Thursdays, coaching softball, attending his great nephews’ football and baseball games, family trips to Niagara Falls, Canada, with dozens of cousins, and celebrating his Trumfio reunions, which took place for over 80 years. 

George is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Kathleen, whom he married June 25, 1966; his daughter, Kerri Ann Zokle of Austintown; his son, George A. Zokle III of Rhode Island; his sister, Dolores (Gerald) Savo; sister-in-law, Emily (Michael) Zokle; his sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Gene) Slaven; his brother-in-law, Kenneth Litwin; brother-in-law, Richard Dutko; and his nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, George was preceded in death by his father-in-law, John Dutko; brother, Michael Zokle; brother-in-law, Robert Dutko; his mother-in-law, Mary Dutko; his brother-in-law, Eugene Slaven; nephew, Ron Slaven; and his sister-in-law, Bernadette Litwin. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at St. Blaise Parish-St. Joseph Church. Calling hours will be 9 to 10:45 a.m.Thursday at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org or to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org

.Funeral arrangements handled by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.

You can send condolences to George’s family and make donations to the charities George preferred at www.higgins-reardon.com.