JOSEPH OPSITNIK SR., 84 Former Struthers mayor from 1963-64

STRUTHERS -- Services will be at 9:15 a.m. Friday at Kirila Funeral Home and 10 a.m. at Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic Church for Joseph Opsitnik Sr., 84, of 25 Lake Shore, who died Tuesday morning in St. Elizabeth Health Center after a brief illness.
Mr. Opsitnik was born Oct. 16, 1916, in Youngstown, a son of Michael and Mary Bonko Opsitnik.
He served as 3rd Ward councilman and in 1963 was elected president of Struthers Council. He was mayor of Struthers in 1963 and 1964, an office to which he was appointed when Mayor Bruce Papalia died.
Mr. Opsitnik also served eight years on the Struthers Park Board, where he was elected chairman, and was also chairman of the city boxing commission. He also was auditor for the Mahoning Sportmen's Association and a member of Struthers High School Boosters.
He was an arc welder in the electric weld shop at Republic Steel for 27 years and was later employed as custodian for the Struthers Board of Education. He was vice president of the Northeast Ohio Public Employee's Union Local 1156A, and was a member of the church.
Besides his wife, the former Margaret Ondrey, whom he married Oct. 28, 1939, he leaves a son, Joseph J. of Struthers; a daughter, Peggy Potts of North Lima; a brother, William of Youngstown; a sister, Mary Lischak in Arizona; a grandson; and a great-grandson.
A sister, Irene Terlecki; and two brothers, Michael and John Opsitnik, are deceased.
Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
3/14/01