REV. JOSEPH A. SANTOMEN

REV. JOSEPH A. SANTOMEN age 89. Retired Pastor of the Strongsville United Methodist Church. Beloved husband of Elizabeth “Betsey” (nee Nicholas) for 62 years. . Loving father of Lisa Santomen Hellberg (Founder and Director of LASH Educational Services, LLC, Philadelphia, PA ) husband, Richard; Lynne Santomen Marshall (Surgeons’ Assistant – Mercy Hospital, Canton, Ohio), husband, Terry; Kristen Santomen (Home Care and babysitter, Strongsville, Ohio) and Kathleen Hostetter (Respiratory Therapist – Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC), husband, Kenneth.  Grandfather of  Alexa Santomen Marshall; Mackenzie Hostetter Millikan, and Maggie Hostetter.  Great-Grandson, Milo North.  Dear brother of the late Frances Pasek.

Born:  July 9, 1931, in Somerville, N.J.; raised in Bound Brook, N.J.; parents:  Joseph and Gladys (Harrison) Santomen; graduated from Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook, N.J., 1949; attended Brothers College, Drew University, Madison, N.J., BA degree, January 1954; Management training program, Kress and Company through 1956; responded to a call to ministry and entered Drew Theological School; graduated with a Master of Divinity, 1960.  Served the following churches:  Elm Park Methodist Church, Scranton, PA (as student assistant pastor and then as associate pastor); came to Ohio in 1961: East Canton (Mt. Tabor Methodist Church); 1967:  Greentown United Methodist Church; 1979:  Poland United Methodist Church; 1986:  Strongsville United Methodist Church for ten years and then retirement in 1996 continuing to live in Strongsville

He had been active in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church: Canton District Summer Youth Institute, Lakeside, OH (during 12 years: Counselor, Dean of Men, and Dean).  Canton District Youth Coordinator; Canton District Council on Ministries, Secretary and then Chairperson; Member of the Conference Council on Youth Ministries, Member of the Conference Commission on Lay/Clergy Training; Chairperson of East Ohio Conference Task Force on Marriage Enrichment/Encounter; Chairperson of the East Ohio Conference Committee on Future Planning; and a member of Strongsville Rotary for many years.

Since retirement, he has served as Visitation Pastor, Rockport United Methodist Church for four years; also, for more than 4 years as Spiritual Life Coordinator with Hospice at Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC); President of Strongsville Emergency Food Bank; and a volunteer visitor for Hospice at SWGHC. 

A Memorial Service will be held at the Strongsville United Methodist Church , 13500 Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH on Wednesday July 7, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Interment Strongsville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions suggested to the Strongsville Food bank. 

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