Gilbert J. Mcclaskey

Austintown- Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday at Old North Church, 7105 Herbert Rd., Canfield, for Gilbert J. McClaskey, age 83 who went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Feb. 6 with his family by his side. "Gib" (as he was better known) was a bright light always shining for the Lord. Gib was born Sept. 27, 1926 in Girard and was the son of the late Gilbert B. and Florence Ruth (Harrison) McClaskey. He retired in May of 1982 from U.S. Steel-McDonald Works where he had been a crane operator and also had a thriving auto body business in the back garage of his home. Gib had been a member of Evansville Baptist Church and had served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He enjoyed vacationing all over the world with his wife Jean. Summer vacations when his daughters were younger were camping trips in their pop-up trailer. Many lasting friendships were made on those trips. His wife, the former Ella Jean Bortz whom he married Aug. 16, 1947 died April 9, 2004. The Lord was a very important part of Gib's life, but so was his family. Gib was very proud of the family he leaves behind which include two daughters, Linda (Patrick) Stanislaw and Carol (Charles) Perkins both of Austintown, a sister Dorothy Wilkinson of Ashtabula, 5 grandchildren, Gregory (Lisa) Perkins, Michelle (Joseph) Amendol, Patricia (Dennis) Murphy, Steven (Joellen) Perkins, Jonathan Perkins and 5 great grandchildren, Ashley, Makinna, Luke, Zack and Savannah. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and a brother Paul McClaskey. Friends may call at the Lane Funeral Home-Austintown Chapel from 4-8 PM Thursday and from 10:30 to 11 AM Friday at the church. The family requests that material contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Africa Health and Hope, c/o Carol Perkins, 4870 Warwick Dr. South, Canfield, OH 44406.