Obituary for Andrew Korcok

Andrew Andrija Korcok, 60, entered the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the early morning of August 22, 2022. He was proceeded into Glory by his father John Korcok, and father-in-law Paul Border.  He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Bonni [Border] Korcok, his four beautiful daughters: Karli Leffel (Luke), Liljana Soldiani (David), Andi Korcok (Justin Durnell), and Eliann Anderson. He also leaves behind beloved grandchildren: Maylea Leffel, Aliza Leffel, Nora Leffel, Carmen Anderson, Avery Anderson, Galileo Soldiani, and Yasheer Durnell, along with two more grandchildren due soon. He is also survived by his mother Katarina [Hnilica] Korcok and mother-in-law Carol [McClintock] Border, brother Mike Korcok, sisters Vera Korcok (Rick Schordock) and Esther Korcok-Clause, brother- and sister-in-law Scott and Judi [Border] Jemson; as well as beloved niece Rachel Jemson, and nephews Joe Jemson (Robin), Ben Schordock, and John Korcok.  He is also survived by aunts, his Uncle Andy Korcok (Mira), and many, many cousins.

 

Andrew was born in Sid, Yugoslavia in 1962. When he was just four years old, grandparents Paul and Elizabeth Korcok sold the large estate farm the whole family worked on to leave communism and bring their 10 children and all the spouses and grandchildren to build a new life in the freedom of the United States of America. They settled in northern Ohio and prospered. 

 

Andrew and Bonni married in 1983. The two of them wanted to see more of the country, so moved quite a bit at first. Their eldest children were born in California and the youngest in Ohio, whereupon they settled in Columbus. Andrew studied art at Akron University, and some geology at The Ohio State University. He had success as a photographer and professional photo printer in his earlier years. He later became an 18-wheeler driver to support his family in order to allow his wife to stay home with the children and even to homeschool them. Five years ago, he was unable to continue to work as a Trucker Supervisor for the largest subcontractor of the US Mail due to disability. At that point he joined his wife in her small business and helped with photography, etc. They had great times traveling together, especially to several beach locations along the Atlantic coast. Even though his health continued to decline, he never lost his keen wit/sense of humor that everyone loved. 

 

Besides photography, he enjoyed metal detecting, listening to vintage rock and roll, fixing things, making people eat things he concocted, baking bread, keeping the yard looking good, and was looking forward to teaching his grandchildren how to fish. He had a keen eye that showed in his art, but also in noticing all the little needs people had and in quietly attending to them. In fact, he regularly generously opened his home to others to live when they were between places and to his mother-in-law for as long as she wishes, so he has had a full house ever since the children were born.

 

Andrew and Bonni built their life together on Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” God kept that promise to him in full: Andrew’s home, family, and faith were his heart.