Harry Persely

Harry Persely, age 93, passed away Monday, August 20, 2012, at his residence. He was born on March 1, 1919, in Sterling, Pa, the son of Bela Bill and Julia Sabo Persely. He spent his childhood working on the family farm in nearby Masontown. He also worked as a young man in Pennsylvania as a coal miner and for the WPA. During WW II, he served in the U.S. Army and earned the promotion to sergeant for the military police. His last assignment, guarding prisoners at Camp Perry, led to a love for this part of the country, and after the war he and his wife settled in Port Clinton. In the 1950s he was co-founder of Persely and Reihl Manufacturing Co., which produced Clinton steel boats and steel docks. In 1960, he started Persely Metal Products, specializing in welding, ornamental iron and other metal fabrications, and with the help of Agnes, ran this business for three decades. He continued to be adept at inventing useful metal products. Harry enjoyed collecting antique cars and buying and reselling antiques. He was a life-time member of the Alfred G. Dodway American Legion Post #113 in Port Clinton and was active for many years in running bingo and card games. In 2011 he joined the Moose Lodge #1610. He and Juanita contributed much of their time to the Port Clinton Senior Center. He will be remembered for his love of dancing, playing cards and regular trips to the casino. Harry is survived by his loving wife, Juanita and daughter Sharon Dave Crifasi of Oberlin; stepchildren: Celinda Tom Gerhardstein of Republic; Pamela Ken Bacon of Port Clinton; Sam Herlinda Mills of Oak Harbor; grandsons, Michael Crifasi of Cleveland and Kenneth Crifasi of Boulder, Colorado; step-grandchildren - Anna, Samantha, Ken Jr.; and Lydia Bacon; Zachary, Noah and Jack Mills; and Madison Gerhardstein; older sister - Helen Emery; and his PC Seniors family. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes; his parents, Bill and Julia Persely; brothers: Rudolph, William, Ben, Charles, Max, Leonard, Victor, Gazy and Edward Persely and sister: Julia Gaydosh. Visitation will be from 3-8PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2012 in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Clinton, OH. Funeral service will be held at 10:00AM, Thursday, August 23 in the funeral home. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stein Hospice, PC Seniors/Port Clinton Senior Center, American Legion Post #113 or Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.