John Higgins

POLAND - Prayers will begin Thursday at 12:15 PM at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Poland Chapel followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 1:00 PM at Holy Family Church in Poland, Ohio for John J. "Jack" Higgins who died Monday afternoon at 81 at the Hospice House after a deeply rewarding and happy life.

John was born January 22, 1931, the son of Frank M. and Marie E. Rosensteel Higgins.

Jack who also was known as J.J. by many, was a 1949 graduate of Ursuline High School, where he played football, and has faithfully served on the class reunion committee. He then attended Youngstown University until enlisting in the United States Coast Guard to serve our country during the Korean War. After his discharge in 1954 he completed his professional studies at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1956, a professional title he would proudly embrace and work tirelessly to raise its standards. From 1956 to 1958, Jack assisted his father in the operation of their funeral home, which was established in 1923 on Rayen Ave. In 1958, Jack assumed the operation of his father's funeral home and decided to establish a new location in the soon to be rapidly growing suburb of Austintown. At that same time Jack also established an ambulance service, Higgins Ambulance, which served the area for over thirty years.

In 1965, Jack founded Hi Way Leasing, a company that supplied numerous local businesses and their employees with leased vehicles decades before national companies offered it. Under his leadership he expanded the service area of the funeral home, establishing the Boardman-Canfield Funeral Home in 1977, and the Poland Funeral Home in 1994. Jack has remained active in the operations of his family firm until the time of his illness, offering invaluable advice and council during the addition of the firm's fourth location in the growing area of North Jackson in 2010.

Jack leaves a long legacy of Professional, Community and Civic involvement. He has served as the Past President of the Austintown Kiwanis Club, past Lieutenant Governor, District #21 - Ohio Kiwanis; Past President of the Western Reserve Council of the Navy League; Past President of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties Funeral Directors Association; Past President of Ohio Funeral Directors Association: served on committees of the National Funeral Directors Association; served on the National Registry Board for Emergency Technicians; served two terms under Governor James Rhodes and one term under Governor Richard Celeste as a member of the Governor's Advisory Council for Pre-Hospital Care, setting standards for training, programs and equipment and vehicle requirements for ambulance operators in the state of Ohio. In 1981, he received the Distinguished Service Award for significant contributions to the funeral profession from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; most recently he served as a field representative for U.S. Congressman, Charles Wilson for Ohio's 6th district.

Jack was a charter member of Immaculate Heart of Mary and served on the church council, a former member of St. Christine's church where he served as an usher, and most recently a member of Holy Family Church. Jack was also a charter member of the Mahoning Valley Gaelic Society; life member of the Saxon Club; life member of Youngstown Elks Lodge #55; Catholic War Vets John J. Buckley Post #1292; Eagles Aerie #213; Youngstown Maennerchor Club; Ursuline Mother House Century Club: life member K of C Council #274: K of C Fourth Degree Assembly #826; and a current member of the Lake Club.

Jack's love for boating developed in the Coast Guard and continued in his private life. J.J. enjoyed boating on all five of the great lakes on his boat "J.J.'s Harem" a name given to Jack by a young dock hand when he and his beautiful wife, and four daughters pulled into dock. The dock hand survived, and the name stuck. Many of Jack's happiest times were spent with his friends, children and grandchildren, boating and enjoying the most beautiful Catawba sunsets.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, the former Barbara Ockerman whom he married April 12, 1958; four daughters; Patricia Higgins (Billy Jack) of Poland, Susan (John) Flood of Colleyville, Texas, Katie Higgins of Cincinnati, and Judy (Terry) Reardon of Boardman; his sister, Kathleen Menosky; eight grandchildren, Michael and Allison Flood, Benjamin and Emma Vickers, and John, Terrance, Bailey and Delaney Reardon.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lieutenant Commander Elaine Horton ret. US Navy.

Friends may call Wednesday from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, and Thursday from 10:30 AM to 12:15 AM at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Poland Chapel

Mr Higgins requested that material tributes take the form of donations to the Austintown Police Department Canine Units, the Poland Police Departments or the Holy Family Church Building Fund.

The family would like to thank Dr. Kravec and the wonderful staff at Hospice House for making his last days so peaceful.