JOHN NANES
John Nanes, 90, died peacefully at Heartland of Perrysburg on Sunday, April 28. John was born on August 16, 1922 to Zsofi and Titus Nanes on Genesee St. in East Toledo. He remained on the East Side until moving to Perrysburg Commons, an assisted living facility in November of 2010, to be with his wife. Always a loyal Waite High School football fan, he and his wife bought season tickets for many years. His daughter Sheila Evelyn remembers how excited she was to go through the season tickets each year admiring them for their vivid colors - Always a different color for each Friday night’s event. Thanksgiving Day was always marked by attending the Waite vs. Scott competition before the family went over to enjoy his mother’s marvelous cooking which, no matter what the holiday, always had a Hungarian flair. His wife, Sheila taught their daughter the Waite fight song and Alma Mater as soon as she was able to sing. It was only because the family moved to Oregon in 1960 that his daughter went to Clay High School instead of Waite. However, it pleased John that Sheila elected to do her student teaching at Waite High School.
Another passion of John’s was his love of cars. Sheila Evelyn remembers that when he bought his first new car, a 1951 black Pontiac, he told the car salesman that the car actually belonged to his daughter and he was only driving it for her. Many times when he went to have the car serviced for repairs he didn’t feel qualified to make, his daughter went with him. At a very young age he taught her the importance of car maintenance - the most important lesson perhaps being that the only thing between you and the road were your tires. He could be seen on many a Saturday morning at 7 o’clock in clement weather washing his car early so water spots would not form on the car’s finish. Up until his heart attack at the age of 67, John waxed his cars himself, meticulously dusted them and always did the routine maintenance like changing the antifreeze transmission fluid, spark plugs etc. Not one to read fiction, John confined himself to reading about cars and electronics.
The love of his life, though, was his wife, Sheila, whom he met while stationed at Wharton Air Base in England during World War II. John met Sheila in December of 1944 when he went to Blackpool on a weekend pass. They married the following July 28th and spent a short honeymoon in Edinburgh, Scotland. Soon after, John was deployed to France for his departure back to the states. His young war bride followed him to the states in April of 1946.
After retirement from Prestolite, and while his wife remained in good health and was able to travel, John enjoyed Air Force reunions sometimes in England but also in different cities throughout the states. He was proud to serve his country in the Air Force and was a long time member of the BAD (Base Air Depot) Eighth Air Force. This select group of men was comprised of Americans who also served at Wharton air base during World War II. At these reunions, the other men would comment that this young Technical Sergeant (he was drafted at the age of 20) was a fair and calm individual who provided stability for his men. John’s attitude was that once you’ve done your best and have done everything that could possibly be done, you can’t do any more and must accept the situation as it is. He maintained this attitude throughout his life.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George; and step-father, Petco Velicoff. Survived to cherish his memory is his wife, Sheila; daughter, Sheila Evelyn (John) Nye; grandchildren, Brittany Jo Marciniak and Rodger (Amy) Marciniak. In addition, John leaves behind his great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Spencer and Sofia Lowe.
Perhaps his courage and high standards for himself as well as others can best be summed up by quoting a few lines for the U.S. Air Force (song): “We live in fame or go down in flames. Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force.” Dad, you were unstoppable and I am so proud to be your daughter. You never went “down in flames” but kept your “wings level and true.” Good night dad, and thank you for giving me so much.
Friends and family may visit on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 1-2 p.m. in the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S Wynn Rd., Oregon, where the Funeral Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Private burial will be at Willow Cemetery. The family wishes to express thanks to Perrysburg Heartland staff, nurses and aides. In lieu of floral displays, condolences can be expressed by a donation in John’s name to the Toledo Humane Society or Calvin United Church of Christ.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Nanes, please visit our flower store.
John Nanes, 90, died peacefully at Heartland of Perrysburg on Sunday, April 28. John was born on August 16, 1922 to Zsofi and Titus Nanes on Genesee St. in East Toledo. He remained on the East Side until moving to Perrysburg Commons, an assisted living facility in November of 2010, to be with his wife. Always a loyal Waite High School football fan, he and his wife bought season tickets for many years. His daughter Sheila Evelyn remembers how excited she was to go through the season tickets each year admiring them for their vivid colors - Always a different color for each Friday night’s event. Thanksgiving Day was always marked by attending the Waite vs. Scott competition before the family went over to enjoy his mother’s marvelous cooking which, no matter what the holiday, always had a Hungarian flair. His wife, Sheila taught their daughter the Waite fight song and Alma Mater as soon as she was able to sing. It was only because the family moved to Oregon in 1960 that his daughter went to Clay High School instead of Waite. However, it pleased John that Sheila elected to do her student teaching at Waite High School.
Another passion of John’s was his love of cars. Sheila Evelyn remembers that when he bought his first new car, a 1951 black Pontiac, he told the car salesman that the car actually belonged to his daughter and he was only driving it for her. Many times when he went to have the car serviced for repairs he didn’t feel qualified to make, his daughter went with him. At a very young age he taught her the importance of car maintenance - the most important lesson perhaps being that the only thing between you and the road were your tires. He could be seen on many a Saturday morning at 7 o’clock in clement weather washing his car early so water spots would not form on the car’s finish. Up until his heart attack at the age of 67, John waxed his cars himself, meticulously dusted them and always did the routine maintenance like changing the antifreeze transmission fluid, spark plugs etc. Not one to read fiction, John confined himself to reading about cars and electronics.
The love of his life, though, was his wife, Sheila, whom he met while stationed at Wharton Air Base in England during World War II. John met Sheila in December of 1944 when he went to Blackpool on a weekend pass. They married the following July 28th and spent a short honeymoon in Edinburgh, Scotland. Soon after, John was deployed to France for his departure back to the states. His young war bride followed him to the states in April of 1946.
After retirement from Prestolite, and while his wife remained in good health and was able to travel, John enjoyed Air Force reunions sometimes in England but also in different cities throughout the states. He was proud to serve his country in the Air Force and was a long time member of the BAD (Base Air Depot) Eighth Air Force. This select group of men was comprised of Americans who also served at Wharton air base during World War II. At these reunions, the other men would comment that this young Technical Sergeant (he was drafted at the age of 20) was a fair and calm individual who provided stability for his men. John’s attitude was that once you’ve done your best and have done everything that could possibly be done, you can’t do any more and must accept the situation as it is. He maintained this attitude throughout his life.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George; and step-father, Petco Velicoff. Survived to cherish his memory is his wife, Sheila; daughter, Sheila Evelyn (John) Nye; grandchildren, Brittany Jo Marciniak and Rodger (Amy) Marciniak. In addition, John leaves behind his great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Spencer and Sofia Lowe.
Perhaps his courage and high standards for himself as well as others can best be summed up by quoting a few lines for the U.S. Air Force (song): “We live in fame or go down in flames. Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force.” Dad, you were unstoppable and I am so proud to be your daughter. You never went “down in flames” but kept your “wings level and true.” Good night dad, and thank you for giving me so much.
Friends and family may visit on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 1-2 p.m. in the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S Wynn Rd., Oregon, where the Funeral Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Private burial will be at Willow Cemetery. The family wishes to express thanks to Perrysburg Heartland staff, nurses and aides. In lieu of floral displays, condolences can be expressed by a donation in John’s name to the Toledo Humane Society or Calvin United Church of Christ.