Donald S. Wargowsky

Judge Donald Sherman Wargowsky, age 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2015, at Edgewood Manor Nursing Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. Don was born on February 5, 1925 in a farm house in Carroll Township, seven miles north of Oak Harbor, Ohio. He was the fourth of seven children born to Gustav and Mamie (Meinke) Wargowsky. In 1926 when Don was only 18 months old, he suffered his first attack of polio, paralyzing him from the waist down. He had to be carried, or crawled, until he was 4, when he received his first pair of crutches and leg braces. In 1936 polio struck him for the second time when he was eleven years old, leaving him with double scoliosis, and without the use of his legs and his left arm from the elbow down. He spent the next two years at the Toledo Crippled Children's Hospital. His doctors told him he was only the fourth person in history to survive polio twice. Don lived with his Meinke grandparents at their home on Leutz Road throughout high school. His father made him a specially equipped car he could operate with hand controls, allowing him to drive. He graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1942. He attended college at Kent State University, where he won the national debating championship as a freshman, and was twice elected class president. He graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University after only three years, and took off for New York City, where he attended Columbia University College of Law. He finished law school in two years, at age 22, graduating in 1947 as the top student in his class. He went straight into private law practice and became a partner in the Rosentreter Law Firm in Oak Harbor, Ohio, where he also served as assistant prosecutor from 1949 to 1954. On April 8, 1950 Don married Faith E. Buchholz, and they lived and raised their two children in Oak Harbor, Ohio. They attended St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1954 he became the first judge of the Ottawa County Municipal Court, making him Ohio's youngest judge at just 28 years old. He went on to be elected judge of the Ottawa County Probate and Juvenile Court from 1961 to 1973, and was Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Judge until his retirement in 1979, after serving 25 years as a Judge. The Municipal Courtroom in Port Clinton is named in his honor. On four occasions, he has received the Ohio Supreme Court's top judge award. Always a fighter for the disabled, Judge Wargowsky was active in the Easter Seals Society and was awarded Handicapped Man of the Year of the Ohio Easter Seals Society in 1960 and 1970. In 1972, Judge filed a class-action lawsuit against the county commissioners for installation of an elevator in the Ottawa County Courthouse. He could not physically climb 47 steps to his office on the third floor of the courthouse. He won the lawsuit, setting a precedent nationwide. This was one of his proudest accomplishments. Judge Wargowsky was always active in the Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest possible honor for volunteer service, by the Toledo Area Scouting Council. As a native of Toussaint, he was a strong booster of the community where he grew up along the banks of the Toussaint River north of Oak Harbor. After nearly 30 years of researching history books, he found an account of a French voyageur, Etienne Brule, who landed at the mouth of the Toussaint in 1615, five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. In 1972, Judge Wargowsky originated Toussaint Founder's Day, held annually on November 1st to honor Etienne Brule. He wrote three songs for the event, "Hail to Thee, O' Toussaint," "Vive Le Grand Brule," and "When Autumn Comes to Toussaint". After his retirement, Judge and Faith moved to Aiken, South Carolina in 1980 to be in a warmer climate. Judge continued his favorite hobby of writing, and completed five books: "Muskrat in the Courtroom," "Crimson Crutch", "Diary of a Bad Girl", "Let's Play Judge", and "Blue Stories to Enjoy with your Third Martini". Judge designed their home for wheelchair accessibility in all rooms. Judge always loved music. He started on piano and guitar, and later the accordion. When his hand was disabled with polio, he changed to playing trumpet and baritone horn, and played valve trombone in a college jazz band. Judge Wargowsky was a self-made man, full of passion for life. He was a brilliant thinker, an ingenious creator, and a cheerful, exuberant and thoughtful man. He fought for equality and fairness, and found it his duty to serve others. An amazing storyteller, he used his life story as a lesson in hard work, perseverance and faith. He could be very serious, but his boundless imagination and clever humor always left a lasting impression. Judge Wargowsky is survived by his son, Donald S. Wargowsky II, his daughter, Tanya Wargowsky; three grandchildren, Craig (Heather) Wargowsky, Shaun (Karina) Wargowsky and Benjamin Warsaw; two great-grandchildren, Leila and Dylan Wargowsky; and brother Richard (Sandra) Wargowsky. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Faith Wargowsky, his parents, brother Lloyd Wargowsky, sisters Opal Martin, Ruth Hartman, Esther Schlea and Evelyn Moenter, and his infant granddaughter Heidi. Friends may call after 2:00 P.M. Sunday, April 26, 2015 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa Street, Oak Harbor, where funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. The Rev. John Stirewalt will officiate, and interment will be in Salem Township Union Cemetery at a later date. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the church. Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Oak Harbor, is handling arrangements for Judge Wargowsky's family and online condolences may be shared at www.crosserfuneralhome.com. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home - Oak Harbor Chapel 301 N. Locust Street Oak Harbor, OH