BOARDMAN, Ohio — Joseph “Joe” Nicholas Bayus of Boardman, Ohio, passed away Monday morning (5-5-08) in his home. He was 75.

Mr. Bayus was born July 21, 1932, in Campbell, Ohio, a son of John and Edna Hromyak Bayus.

He was a lifelong area resident.

Mr. Bayus was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.

He was a 1950 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School and attended Youngstown State University.

Mr. Bayus was a materials procurement buyer for the Electrical Shop/Maintenance Department for Sheet and Tube-LTV Steel Co., Youngstown, before retiring in 1978 due to his disablement with heart problems.

A Navy veteran, he served in the Korean conflict.

Mr. Bayus was a lifelong faithful member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Campbell, where he was actively involved in activities throughout his years. He was the organizer of the Byzantine Youth Association of the church and served as its advisor for more than 14 years. He was also affiliated with the Byzantine Men’s Association and was Man of the Year in 1987 and a member of the Sacred Heart Society of the church. For many years, he assisted as cantor and lector and was presently the cantor of the church. He was also a member of the Byzantine Men’s Choir of St. Michael’s Church in Campbell, and the St. Nicholas Mixed Choir.

Mr. Bayus was a member of the Greek Catholic Union Fraternal Society Lodge 252, of which he served as local treasurer. For more than 30 years, he was an officer of various lodges in the church and was also an officer for many years for GCU District 3.

As an accomplished and self-taught accordion player, Joe was a well known musician in the area. He performed for various occasions throughout the Valley and in nursing homes for more than 50 years. He also played with various area bands and had his group, the Joe Bayus Orchestra; during the 1970s and ’80s was leader of the Varatones Orchestra for more than 20 years; and was a member of Local 86-242 of the American Federation of Musicians and a member of the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals Association.

In 1989, he was part of the P.O.P.P. group polka recording Souvenir Edition that was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Polka Album of the Year. His own arrangement of the popular version of “Katarina” was featured on the recording.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, the former Loisann Mika, whom he married Oct. 11, 1958; and two brothers, Andrew and Thomas Bayus.

He is survived by: his three daughters, JoAnn and her husband Marty Stock, Youngstown; Susan Bayus, Struthers, Ohio; and Mariann and her husband Daniel Brown, Auburn, Ga.; two grandchildren, Thomas Joseph Rouzzo and Maria Rose Rouzzo; four brothers, John Bayus, Phoenix; Raymond Bayus, Florida; Paul Bayus, Struthers; and James Bayus, Reno, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews and a host of relatives in Slovakia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home for the Joseph Bayus Memorial Fund.

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