Michael Feryo's Obituary
Michael Feryo, Jr., son of Michael Feryo, Sr. and Anna Lobo Feryo, was born April 10, 1924, in Gary Indiana. He departed this life Sunday, December 26, 2010, in his home, in Conway, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, eight months, and sixteen days. Early in his life he was united in marriage to Joyce Neff, and to this union one daughter and one son were born. Joyce preceded him in death after sharing thirty years. On June 3, 2003, he was united in marriage to Helen Marie Bell, and they shared the last seven years. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Joey; two sisters, Pauline and Mary; and a step-daughter, Janieve Alley. Michael is survived by his wife, Helen, and her two grandchildren, Bradley and Kassandra, all of the home; a daughter, Diane Bojda, and her husband, John, of Hobart, Indiana; a son, Michael Feryo, III, of Hobart, Indiana; two grandchildren, Ryan and Eric, of whom he was especially fond; two great-granddaughters; his extended family, Christopher Bell, and his wife, Desiree, of Aurora, Colorado, Michael Parson, and his wife, Kimberly, of Flovilla, Georgia, Michelle Perkins, and her husband, Aaron, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and fourteen grandchildren; three sisters, Ann Springman, and her husband, John, Helen Urban, all of Hobart, Indiana, and Madge Petri, of Crown Point, Indiana; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. He was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, and graduated from high school there. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 until 1946, during World War II, and was a turret gunner in the Navy Air Corps. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he returned to Indiana and earned his Bachelors of Science and Masters in Elementary Education Degrees from Indiana University in South Bend, Indiana. He taught elementary school in the Gary, Indiana School System for thirty-two years, and a major part of that time at Froebel Elementary School. He taught driver?s education and health education and served as an elementary school coach for the majority of those years, and was known as ?Grandpa Coach?. Later, after retiring, he moved to Missouri, and worked as an assistant in the Physical Therapy program at Drury University, helping with the Multiple Sclerosis patients. He had also worked as a courier for the Pony Express Service for ten years, and for Corporate Bank Transit. Michael had professed his faith in Christ and was an active member of Oakland Heritage Church of God, near Lebanon. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion, and was a sixty year ?I? Man Alum of Indiana University, where he lettered in gymnastics. He had also been a tutor for the Lebanon Literacy Council. In his spare time he enjoyed playing the harmonica and liked to write songs. His family was very important to him and he loved them dearly. Michael was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all of his family and friends.
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