Obituaries

Jack Risher, age 87 of Sylvania Township peacefully passed away on September 11, 2024 surrounded by his loving family and dear friends. Jack was the son of Donald and Emmaretta (Branson) Risher of Weirton, West Virgina. Jack served in the Army Reserves from 1956-1958. He then attended West Virginia University, where he met and later married Eleanor Lee Urso of Clarksburg West Virginia in 1958. Jack and Eleanor resided in Weirton, WV where Jack began his career in the steel industry where he worked for over 40 years.

In 1965 the family relocated to Toledo, OH when Jack accepted a position with National Steel as a sales representative. During the period of 1969 to 1980, the family relocated three times as Jack’s roles and promotions with National transferred him to from Toledo to Detroit and back to Toledo where he served as District Sales Manager until his retirement.

Jack was an avid sportsman and was introduced to golf, as a young man by his father and it became his life-long passion. Golf was a source of many good friendships throughout his life. He was a member of Plum Hollow Golf Club while living in the Detroit area and Toledo’s Inverness Club when he moved back. Jack was fortunate to have logged 6 hole-in-ones over his time on the links along with many other achievements Many summer Saturdays he could be found playing golf in the morning and then being surrounded by family for dinner before tuning on the radio broadcast of the Detroit Tigers with Eleanor on their screened porch.

He placed high importance on his relationships with family, friends and his customers. He always put his family first, set a strong and loving example, and treated everyone he met with respect. His kind heart and jovial persona made him an instant friend; many of which became life-long. In his later years, he became a member of the Toledo Elks Club.

Jack was preceded in death by Eleanor, his wife of 57 years, his parents Don and Emmaretta, and his older brother Donald. He is survived by his children Jack (Laura) Risher and Leigh-Anne (David) Valdes; 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; his sister Lynn (Risher) Bish and brother-in-law Carl Bish; his close companion Gordyne Kaslly many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A gathering at 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2:00 for family and friends will be held on October 5, 2024, at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Avenue, Toledo OH 43623. Condolences may be sent to the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Folds of Honor (https://foldsofhonor.org/), or St. Labre Indian School (www.stlabre.org)