FREDERICKTOWN – Ivan Dale “Pete” Handwerk, Oct. 8, 1935, to Aug. 13, 2022.
Born Oct. 8, 1935, to Carey and Madge (Shellenbarger) Handwerk, Ivan Dale “Pete” Handwerk joined his beloved wife, Sarah, and his brothers Wayne, Harry, Jack and Owen on Aug. 13, 2022. He is survived by his daughter Alicia and many nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly.
How did Ivan Dale become Pete? As a little boy, his father called him Peter Pan, and it just stuck throughout his life. Pete graduated from Utica High School in 1953. In 1956, he joined the Army, where he met lifelong friends Raymond and Marie Brown. After receiving an honorable discharge, Pete returned to Mount Vernon, where he worked at the bridge shop. He met and married Sarah, who shared his love of square dancing and travel.
Pete began working at the General Motors Fisher Body plant in Ontario, Ohio, and retired from GM after 33 years. But "retire" is a relative term as he then began to serve as township zoning inspector and running cars for a local dealership. He also volunteered with the Station Break, delivering Meals on Wheels, which eventually led to serving on the Advisory Board for the District 5 Area Agency on Aging for many years.
For nearly 60 years, Pete was a faithful member of Fredericktown First Presbyterian Church, serving as trustee and deacon and anchoring the choir. He also served many hours at the church’s Tomato Show bean booth, washing dishes after funeral dinners and was a familiar sight as he served up turkey at the annual Election Day turkey supper.
Pete had a lifelong love of music beginning with singing at church and school as a youth, singing with a gospel group with his brother Harry and performing with the annual cantata choir in Knox County. He was always ready to attend a musical performance as well and loved the Ohio Light Opera.
In addition to traveling with Sarah and playing euchre at family get-togethers, Pete was an avid gardener, read voraciously and always did his crossword puzzles in ink. Those who knew Pete well were familiar with his infectious laugh and his (sometimes naughty) sense of humor. Pete rarely met a situation where he couldn’t find the humor.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Fredericktown. The Snyder Funeral Home - Lasater Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Handwerk family.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Pete’s generous nature with a contribution to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster or the charity of your choice.
