James "Jumbo" Jaros

1934 - 2023

James "Jumbo" Jaros

March 30, 1934 - August 19, 2023

James "Jumbo" Jaros of Perrysburg, Ohio and Brooklyn, Michigan went to be with our Lord and Savior on August 19, 2023.

Jumbo was born in East Toledo on March 30, 1934 attending Good Sheperd, St Louis and Waite high schools and later the Davis Business and Owens Community colleges, and never lost his love and passion for his East Toledo "Peanut Hill" roots. He was also proud of his Slovakian heritage and visited these familial roots about 20 years ago. Jumbo bragged we lived in the best place in world having the best football, lakes, and climate. Jumbo loved relationships and connecting with people. Once speaking with him, you felt the connections of a lifetime.

Jumbo was a selfless father who always thought of his wife, Shirley, or five children before spending a dollar on himself. He was proud that as a 35 plus year long shoreman for CSX, and having many opportunities to load and unload the famed Edmund Fitzgerald, he and his wife were able to send all five children to catholic grade and catholic high schools and then college.

Jim met the love of his life, the former Shirley Ondrus, at the clearwater quarry in 1957 and they were married by a ceremony performed by his brother, the Reverend Joseph Jaros at Sacred Heart Church East Toledo Ohio on October 4, 1958. Together they were married nearly 65 years raising five children who all remained very close to Jim.

At age 20, Jim volunteered and served in the US army in 1954 for two years. He loved tailgating in the Ann Arbor pioneer lot and attending U Michigan games in the big house and being in the suites both at Michigan and at the Toledo Rockets games. More than tailgating at football games, Jim loved spending 40 plus summers with his family at Vineyard Lake in the Irish Hills, and 27 years at their winter residence in Bonita Springs, Florida. When Jim's children played sports in Walbridge, Ohio, Jim never missed an athletic event. Watching his kids participate, then watching his grandchildren participate, were the best times and joys of Jim's life. He had an amazing ability to recall an event or play, that the kids couldn't remember.

Jumbo was a member of American Legion, Knights of Columbus 4th degree, Fraternal Order of Eagles, East Toledo Family Center, and Veteran of Foreign Wars. Jim was predeceased by his fathe,r Joseph (1951); his mother, Anna (1976); and his brother, the Revend Joseph P. Jaros (2015). He is survived by and will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 65 years, Shirley (formerly Ondrus); his sister, Joanne (Dennis) Siefke; and his five children, Dianna (Dennis) Marzec, Jim (Stephanie) Jaros, Jackie (Greg) Marquette, David Jaros, and Jodi (Keith) Duhaime; additionally, twelve grandchildren, Chad (Alisa), Brad (Brooke) and Alex (Lauren) Marzec, Lee (Arin) Marquette, Allison (Steve) Switzer, Julia (Joe) Kenny, Jay Marquette, Aubrey and Abigail Duhaime, Angelina, Jimmy, and Jace Jaros; and eighteen great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and dog, GiGi.

Jim was a long-time member from 1968 until 2000 of St Jerome catholic church in Walbridge, Ohio, and in recent years All-Saints Rossford and the St. Joseph's Shrine in the Irish Hills of Brooklyn Michigan.

Visitation will commence on Saturday August 26, 2023, at 9 a.m. in the narthex of All-Saints Catholic Church, Lime City Road, Rossford, Ohio, immediately followed by an 11a.m. Funeral Mass. Burial at Lake Township cemetery Walbridge. Ohio. In lieu of flowers. please consider All Saints or St Joseph Shrine Catholic churches.

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