Joseph K. Vankos

Joseph (Jozsef) (Joe) Karoly Vankos, 86, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2022, due to complications of amyloid heart disease. He was born on February 22, 1936, in Tapolcafo, Hungary, to the late Jozsef & Rozalia (Bali) Vankos. During the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Joe escaped to Austria and eventually made his way to the US, arriving at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on December 12, 1956. Two days later, he arrived in Akron, Ohio, to live with his half-aunt and uncle, Lidia & Beni Varga.

Joe was first employed by the Flueger Fishing Tackle Company, and then, beginning in 1963, and for the next 35 years, was employed with the General Motors Corporation, beginning as a mechanic at the GM Terex Plant in Hudson, Ohio, and ending in quality control at the GM Stamping Plant in Parma, Ohio, from where he retired on December 18, 1997.

An unassuming family man with a strong work ethic and a quirky sense of humor, Joe was both a talented mechanic and an all-around handyman who enjoyed the simple things in life. He enjoyed playing chess, skiing, swimming, bowling, listening to his collection of Hungarian music, and visits from his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He could often be seen in his neighborhood riding his bicycle or taking walks with his spouse, and taking part in the Summit County Fall Hiking Spree. He also enjoyed watching Shark Tank and laughing hysterically at reruns of Seinfeld as well as armchair quarterbacking for the Browns. The one big project that he was very proud of was his researching and compiling his Hungarian genealogy roots through the years.

Joe also greatly enjoyed his retirement years as he loved being outdoors as much as possible. He was able to finish building his backyard waterwheel and his water fountains as well as tending his garden and blueberry bushes. And he could be found almost daily feeding the fish in his water pond. He was proud of his backyard “park setting”, including the tree swing, and took great pride in showing it off not only to his visiting family but also to neighbors, friends and even strangers!

Besides his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Elvira (Hungary); parents-in-law, Alfred and Mary DiSante; and brother-in-law, Sandor Jakab. He is survived by his caring wife of 53 years, Isabel (DiSante) Vankos; daughter, Natalie; son, Joseph Carl; and daughter, Suzann (Brian) Wodetzki; grandchildren, Jeremy, Avery, Jackson, Ryan, Charlotte, Victoria, Ty, Rachel (Derek Fish), Briannah, and Brian; sister, Maria Jakab, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote: “It is the simple things of life which are the real ones after all”- to which Joe would have agreed with and would have uttered his favorite phrase-“ That’s the bottom line”!

Calling hours for Joe will be between 12:00-2:00 PM on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Ciriello & Carr Funeral Home, 39 S. Miller Rd., Fairlawn, Ohio, 44333, with a service immediately following. Internment will take place at Rose Hill Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, donations may be made to the Amyloidosis Foundation, 7151 N. Main St., Suite 2, Clarkston, MI 48346 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 1100N, Bethesda, MD 20814.

“We will always carry your memory in our hearts!”

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