Stanley M. Kerka

age 87, born September 19, 1934, formerly of Lakewood and Seven Hills, Ohio, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2022 in Hudson, Ohio. Beloved husband of Jeanette (nee Patricelli) for 61 years; proud father of Rosemarie (Chuck) Hoover, Thomas (Anne) Kerka and David (Lisa) Kerka; and loving “Pop Pops” to grandchildren Jaimie, Katherine, David and Caroline Kerka and Miles and Drew Hoover.

Stan was a successful retired VP with Cleveland Trust Co./Ameritrust Co. and Commerce Exchange Bank. He joined the old Cleveland Trust Co.’s Broadview/Pearl branch in 1952, and worked at seven branches in addition to the seven years he worked in the Loan Operations Department.

Stan was active with the Domed Stadium Boosters, a past member of the Advisory Boards of St. Joseph’s Academy and Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs and a former Secretary of the Advisory Board of Providence House Child Crisis Center. Stan was on the Providence House Board during the nonprofit’s expansion. Stan was also very active in the Lakewood Jaycees and with Lakewood YMCA, and volunteered for years as a “RedCoat” at Playhouse Square.

Mr. Kerka was a U.S. Navy Veteran and a member of the original commissioning crew of the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Canberra in 1955. After being discharged, he took banking courses through the American Institute of Banking and attended summer classes at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

After living in Lakewood for 31 years, in 1991 Stan and Jeanette moved to Seven Hills and became members of St. Matthias Catholic Church. Stan was Secretary of the Parish Finance Council, a Eucharistic Minster and helped count weekly collections. He was an acolyte at both St. Matthias and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Stan and his family enjoyed many years of camping, and his hobbies included woodworking, woodcarving as a member of the Great Lakes Wood Carvers, fishing and tying fly fishing flies.

Stan’s family would like to acknowledge MaryAnn Vacca, Paul and Diane Gerg and the Danbury Senior Living (Hudson) staff for their caring assistance during Stan’s recent illness.

Visitation Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 4 - 8 PM at Craciun Funeral Home 14925 E. Bagley Rd. Middleburg Hts. 44130. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, February 25, 2022, at 10 AM at St. Matthias Catholic Church 1200 West Sprague Rd. Parma, Ohio 44134 (Meet at Church.)

Committal Services with Military Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made in Stan’s honor to Providence House Inc. at provhouse.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.craciunfuneralhome.com for the Kerka family.