John Truka Obituary

John Robert Truka

Jul 3, 1948 - Apr 19, 2024

Sandusky

John Robert Truka, 75, residing in Sandusky, passed away Friday, April 19, 2024, at home after a prolonged illness.

John was born a raconteur July 3, 1948, in Marion, to Robert and Alice (Lotte) Truka. John graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1967 and attended The Ohio State University where he loved the marching band's Script Ohio, initiating a deep love of music that led to enjoying the best music dives in Tennessee. He loved his friends, in addition to eating oysters, smoking cigars, and making people laugh. It is universally accepted that John Truka shares the title of one of the funniest people ever.

He galivanted across Europe in 1970 on a 175cc BSA Bantam motorcycle. Traveling from the British Isles to scaling the Pyrenees and crossing the Mediterranean to work on an Israeli kibbutz picking bananas was a defining experience that informed his insatiable curiosity to engage and connect with perfect strangers. John wanted to know people and their stories and is remembered by his family and friends for a genuine desire to connect with all who crossed his path - bringing impromptu coffee, kindness, and laughter to bellhops, policemen, and Cedar Point tollbooth workers across the decades.

His love of early mornings, coffee, periodicals, radio, basketball, motorcycles, and meeting new people was his lifestyle. Whether Sandusky, Nashville, San Francisco, Jerusalem, or Knoxville, John wanted to wake up early and listen to the sounds of the city come to life. Most nights he went to bed early with a radio under his pillow listening to Cleveland Indians or Cleveland Cavs games.

John worked for Ohio National Life and then in sales in Tennessee for 25 years before retiring in Sandusky where he treasured long walks on the Sandusky waterfront. John was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a founding member of The Old House Guild.

What mattered most to John was his family. He said, "I Love You" everyday more than his family could ever count. He was a formidably present husband and father and his golf game suffered because of it.

John is survived by his wife, Mary McMahan Truka, whom he began courting in the 8th grade and married Dec. 16, 1972; daughter, Katherine (Ugur) Truka-Tartuk of San Francisco, California; son, Robert Truka of Sandusky; sister, Mary Agnes (Jim) Sauerbrey of Beavercreek; brother, Mike (Patty) Truka of Marion; sister-in-law, Linda Inskeep (Mark King) of Carlsbad, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Vincent and Patrick Truka; and brother-in-law, Dan Inskeep.

The family would like to thank Sandusky EMS, Firelands Hospital, ParkVue Skilled Nursing Facility, Stein Hospice, and Dr. Richard Keller for their compassionate care of John.

Visitation for friends will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2024, until the time of John's celebration of life at 12 p.m. at Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky.

Those wishing to contribute to John's memory may do so to Sandusky Library, 114 West Adams Street, Sandusky, Ohio, 44870.

Condolences may be shared online at www.grofffuneralhomes.com.