WOOSTER – Albert George Kobilarcik, age 87, passed away peacefully after a long hard fought illness surrounded by family on November 7, 2012 in Wooster, Ohio. Albert was born in Hawk Run, Pennsylvania, the ninth of twelve children born to Andrew and Mary (Andresko) Kobilarcik. As a young man, after serving in the Navy during World War II, he moved to Wooster, Ohio, following his brother, Andy, and became an accomplished plastering contractor for over 60 years. In 1950 he met the joy of his life, Mary Ann Wheeler, on a blind date. They were married for sixty years. While Albert was actively involved in many community initiatives and projects, he was best known as Santa Claus to all of Wooster, hosting the Christmas In Motion display for over twenty years where over 150,000 people signed his special guestbook. In 2001 Albert was named Wooster s Citizen of the Year . For the past 38 years he has visited the Wooster Community Hospital on Christmas Day handing out teddy bears to all infants along with gifts to all other patients. In August 2011 he was honored with an Appreciation Open House at Ida Sue School for his lifetime mission of sharing the Christmas spirit with the community. Albert made it a focus of his life to always give to others, whether it was refinishing basements and ceilings for relatives and friends; hosting large gatherings at his home; serving as the short-order cook of hundreds of breakfasts for hungry diners of all ages. No crowd was ever too large; no party was ever too long; no person was ever left out. If anyone needed to get plastered they knew they could call Albert. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church as well as the Knights of Columbus Wooster Council 789. He will be deeply missed by his children: Mary Lou of Indianapolis, IN, Bud (Beth) of Wooster, Karen of Wooster, Ed (Nancy) of Alexandria, VA, Janice (Rod Constable) of Mount Eaton, OH and Ken (Alona) of Manila, Philippines; his grandchildren: Meg (Troy Wilcox), Annie, David, Logan, Dustin, TJ, Tim, Chris, Matthew, Patrick and Kenneth; his great-grandson, Adam and his sisters, Josephine and Irene. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Jeff Silverman; his brothers John, Andy, Joe, Mike, Steve and Alex; sisters Anna, Mary and Frances. The family would like to express a sincere thank you and appreciation to Dr. John K. Miller and Dr. Lawrence Stallings and their staffs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 527 Beall Avenue, Wooster with the Rev. Stephen Moran as the Celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Mary Cemetery Friends may call Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 1-3:00 p.m. and 5-8:00 p.m,. at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St. Wooster and one hour prior to the service at the church. Friends may share a memory for the family at mitch@mcintirebradhamsleek.com Memorial donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691, to St. Mary Catholic Church, PO Box 109, Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Albert Koby Kobilarcik Educational Fund of the Wayne County Community Foundation at http://www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org/education-funds/albert-kob… This new fund was established to honor Albert Koby Kobilarcik and provides library materials and literacy teaching aids to local elementary level schools. The family appreciates the many volunteers who offered their time and talents to make the display possible.
Memorial Contributions
Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691, to St. Mary Catholic Church, PO Box 109, Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Albert Koby Kobilarcik Educational Fund of the Wayne County Community Foundation at http://www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org/education-funds/albert-kob…
Service
Thursday November 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church
Visitation
Wednesday 1-3 and 5-8 pm at the funeral home and one hour to the service at the church
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