Samuel Jurkovich

Samuel Isaac Jurkovich of Cambridge was born on August 16, 1927 to the late Stephen and Mary (Krupko) Jurkovich and passed away on April 25, 2026 at the age of 98 at Adams Lane, Zanesville.

Samuel was 18 when he was drafted into the Army and served from 1945 to 1947 in the Pacific Theater as a Technician Fourth Grade Army Engineer. Basic training and schooling were at Camp Crowder, Missouri. He was a truck driver in Hawaii. He was a heavy equipment operator, truck driver, mechanic, and in charge of the landing strip on Canton Island (no grass and two trees). He also went to Johnston Island (no grass and no trees) and Fiji Island.

He attended Middletown School in first grade, then NorthStar up to eighth grade, and high school at Buffalo High School. He worked at Cleveland Graphite in Caldwell for sixteen years, and NCR in Cambridge for twenty-five years. He also worked as a mold and die maker.

He enjoyed farming, gardening, and raising fruit trees.

Samuel was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pleasant City, serving several positions over the years as financial secretary, treasurer’s assistant, elder, trustee, and on other boards. He was the last surviving veteran of WWII from the church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances (Morgan) Jurkovich, whom he married on June 4, 1955 and who died on December 21, 2020. Also preceding him in death are his brothers, Steve, John, Paul, and Dan; and his sisters, baby Anna, baby Susan, Anna Vargo, Olga Petrenko, Mary Voytko, Bessie Voytko, Mildred Kushner, Ruth Saporito, and Lydia Albin.

Samuel is survived by his children: Sam & Martha Jurkovich, Jeffery & Denise Jurkovich, Mary & Mike Hrinko, and Theresa & Jesse Wynn; his grandchildren: Kathryn (Devin) Downerd, Samuel Jurkovich II, Joseph Jurkovich, Jennifer Larrick, Brandon Jurkovich, Brandy (Jon) McPherson, Cory Jones, Courtney (Logan) Fair, Cheyenne Wynn, Tammy (Aaron) Heflin, and Kevin (Dionna) Gregg; his great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Heflin, Logan Gregg, Abby Gregg, Kiara Goldsmith, Joselyn Goldsmith, Hunter Minney, Chevy Minney, Daniel Larrick II, Jane Larrick, Morgan Ann Downerd, Jackson Downerd, Isaac Fair, and Oliver Fair; his step-grandchildren: Ian Hrinko, Eric (Debbie) Hrinko, and Erin (Jim) Mach; his step-great-grandchildren: Allie Hrinko, Dylan Mach, Makenna Mach, Chase Mach, and Brandon Hrinko; his step-great-great-grandchild, Parker Hrinko; his sister, Dorothy Obsuszt; and his sisters-in-law, Evelyn Jurkovich and Verna Jurkovich.

The family would like to extend a special thanks all the staff and people at Adams Lane Health Care & Rehabilitation Center and also to the staff at Genesis Hospice for the care they provided to Samuel.

Visitation will be held at the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pleasant City, on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. with Pastor Chris Cahill officiating.

Burial will follow at Buffalo Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded to him by the United States Army in conjunction with the Guernsey County Veterans Council.

At Samuel’s request and in lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations in his honor to one of the following organizations: 1) Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, PO Box 309 – 10252 Pine Street (Fairview Addition), Pleasant City OH 43772; or 2) Genesis Hospice, 713 Forest Avenue, Zanesville OH 43701.

Personal condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.black-eppersonfuneralhomes.com