John Kertes' Obituary
John Kertes, age 92, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Beloved husband of Jane Kertes (née Semenchuk) for over 66 years; loving father of Julie Ferguson (Kevin), Laura Kitko; grandfather of Michael, Sara, Tim Ferguson and John, Nicole Kitko; brother-in-law of late Eugene Semenchuk (Lola); uncle of Elizabeth, George Semenchuk; survived by sister Jolán (Joli) Verpecz (Géza) and brother József Kertész (Iren), brother to late Imre Kertész (Marika); nieces Edina Verpecz and Zsuzsi Kertész, nephews Imi Kertész and Józsi Kertész of Hungary.
John lived in the village of Vizsoly, Hungary for the first 23 years of his life, working the land with his father and mother as a farmer. He immigrated to the United States during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. John made his way through Ellis Island, New York, before finally landing in a place called Cleveland, Ohio, that would serve as his home for the remaining 69 years of his life. John initially worked as a SteelCo pots and pans salesman and in a butcher shop before finding his career as a flat bed long haul truck driver throughout the Midwest and Northeast United States, spanning Chicago to New York. John eventually started his own successful trucking company Kertes Trucking.
'Big' John met his wife Jane in a German dance hall. Jane immigrated from Belarus to the United States in 1950. They married in 1959 and recently celebrated their 66th anniversary in October 2025. John was an active member of the Belarusan Orthodox Church and maintained the next door Belarusan American Community Center.
John traveled back to his home country of Hungary many times over the years, and would always bring a different family member with him to meet his direct family and relatives. There, he would take his family to the country's natural hot springs and thermal baths, former castles dotted across the countryside, and the vineyards and cellars of Tokaj known for their famous ice wine. Destinations included his family in the city of Miskolc and Nyékládháza, Mályi village, his family's village of Vizsoly where he grew up, little train ride from Miskolc to Lillafüred, paddleboats of Lake Hámori-tó and Lángos vendor stands in Lillafüred, the Debrecen flower festival, and the Castle Hill Funicular railway overlooking the historic capital of Budapest, both Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River.
Back home in Ohio, John would take his family on annual trips to Amish country to visit the Guggisberg and Heini's cheese factories, Lehman's shop, Main Street Fudge factory, grape vineyards and Chalet in the Valley Restaurant for Swiss cuisine. They would also stop at the neighboring World's Largest Cuckoo Clock located in Sugarcreek, Ohio. He also enjoyed frequenting the West Side Market, always leaving with a hot sausage and bun in hand.
John was a member of the AA community for 31 years. 'Paprikash' John would share his homemade Hungarian chicken paprikash and pork dishes for annual AA anniversary dinners.
Over the years, John continued to cook for his own family Hungarian dishes of Goulash soup, chicken paprikash, paprika seasoned meat stews, Lángos deep fried flatbread topped with sour cream and grated cheese, and homemade stromboli.
Friends may come for visitation Friday, November 28, 2025 at Jardine Funeral Home at 15822 Pearl Road, Strongsville, from 4:00PM-8:00PM, with a prayer at 7:00PM. Church service will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Mother of God of Zyrovicy Orthodox Cathedral, 11064 Webster Road, Strongsville from 10:00AM-11:00AM, followed by a burial service at Riverside Cemetery at 3607 Pearl Road, Cleveland.
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