January 30, 1926 – May 13, 2021
George Michael Sopko, 95, of Chesterland, passed away on May 13th, 2021. Visitation will be held from 4 PM until 7 PM on June 17th, 2021 at the Gattozzi Funeral Home in Chesterland. Interment will be conducted at 10 AM on June 18th, 2021 at Riverside Cemetery in Cleveland. Funeral services will be held at 12 PM on June 18th, 2021 at Parkside Church in Bainbridge. George was born in Painseville, Ohio to John and Mary Sopko on January 30th 1926. He graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1942 at age 16, attended one year at Ohio State University and then commissioned in the United States Navy at age 17 in order to fight in WWII. He served and was honorably discharged on September 7th 1946 as an Ensign. George went on to college at Oklahoma State University majoring in Geology. He worked for LPG Credit, Capitol Equipment, and for State Farm as a Claims Adjuster. George married Mary Agnes Grim in 1950 and they spent 32 years together until she passed away in 1982. He married Patricia Bailey DeRussy in 1984 in Cleveland, Ohio and they spent 34 years together until she passed away in 2018. George was known as a faithful and devoted husband, loving father, fun grandfather, exceptional American, and steadfast supporter of the Cleveland Indians. He was resilient and resourceful in order to overcome obstacles in his life, and worked selflessly to better the station of those he loved. His legacy of service, honesty, and kindness is etched into the hearts of those who knew him. George is preceded in death by his mother Mary, his father John, wife Mary Agnes, wife Patricia Bailey DeRussy, 7 sisters, and 5 brothers. He is survived by his daughter Cynthia Sopko Kurrell (Dennis), son Douglas Sopko (former wife Ann), son Christopher Sopko, step-daughter Cheryl DeRussy Saurwein, step-son Glenn DeRussy (Deborah), grandson Joshua Sopko, granddaughter Danica Sopko (Jordan), step-granddaughter Anastasia Zeigler Joiner (William), step-grandson Daniel Saurwein (Chandra), 3 great-grandsons, and 3 great-granddaughters. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chesterland-oh/george-sopko-10194115
