Marko Vranic

Marko Vranic, 84, of Tallmadge, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 17, 2021, at Akron City Hospital with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Plastovo, Croatia in the former Yugoslavia, to Ana and Ivan Vranic. He attended elementary school in Skradin and secondary school in Sibenik, Croatia where he learned chemistry, metallurgy, and numerous foreign languages. He later moved to Zagreb, Croatia where he earned a degree in musical instrument making and repair. He worked for a time traveling throughout Europe and as far away as the Near East fixing musical instruments. In his youth he loved being with friends and family, listening to music, playing chess, and ran the chess club in Zagreb for many years.
He immigrated to the United States in 1969 to build a better life for himself and his future family. He worked for many years at American Industrial Steel Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and retired from Konica in Hudson in 1999. He was a proud member of the BCTGM International Union.
On July 27, 1974 he married Mira Ivkovic and lived for many years in Cleveland where they were members of St. Vitus Church. They have three loving daughters: Lara, Susan, and Natalie. In 1982 he moved his family to Hudson where they lived for 23 years and were members of St. Mary's Parish. In 1997 he became an American citizen and was equally proud of his American citizenship and Croatian heritage. In 2005 he and his wife moved to Tallmadge where they became members of Our Lady of Victory Church. Later in life he loved gardening, woodworking, listening to polka and country music, playing the accordion, and feeding the wildlife. However, there is nothing he loved more than spending time with his numerous friends and family, especially his children and grandchildren.
Marko was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He lived a long and blessed life, and overcame many hardships. He suffered crippling injuries as a child and spent many years in the hospital, and later in life he survived two bouts with cancer. Yet, he was always smiling, cheerful and never complained. He loved to joke and always made the best out of every situation. He had a love for life, music, and was always grateful, positive, a hard worker and proud of his many accomplishments. He was a great example to his children and grandchildren and always put his family first.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Vranic, sister-in-law Antonia Vranic, and sister-in-law Rose Vranic. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Mira Vranic, who tirelessly and lovingly cared for him during both bouts of cancer; daughters Lara (Dennis) Smithers of Tallmadge, Susan (Victor) Fleischer of Tallmadge, and Natalie (Daniel) Jones of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren, Jeremy Smithers, Kelsey Smithers, Lauren Kil, Michael Smithers, Nikolas Kil, and Elizabeth Fleischer; brother Steve Vranic of Middleburg Heights, sister Neda Haralovic of Zagreb, brother-in-law Dusko (Jula) of Rovinj, Croatia, and many nieces and nephews, including Ann (Jeff) Westmoreland of Eastlake, OH, Carol Jarvis of Middleburg Heights, and Goran Haralovic of Zagreb. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and many friends.
A Catholic Mass will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. with visitation for one hour prior at Our Lady of Victory Church, 73 North Ave, Tallmadge, OH 44278. Burial will take place at Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society or Our Lady of Victory Church. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on Our Lady of Victory's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofvictorychurchtallmadge/. You are kindly asked to wear a mask when in close proximity to others in Church until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation.