Michael Joseph Timko

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Michael Joseph Timko, self portrait

Born on August 23, 1912 in Dixonville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was the sixth child on Stephen Timko Sr and Maria Kenderes.

Description

Michael was shown to be a man of average height and weight. He was a clean shaved man who had brown hair and brown eyes.

Early Years

• Childhood
• Siblings
  • Stephen Timko Jr.
  • Joseph John Timko Sr.
  • Andrew George Timko
  • John Joseph Timko
  • Paul John Timko
  • Anna Margaret Timko

Naturalization

Documentation:

On July 7, 1921, while Michael was born in America, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America when his father applied for citizenship.

The family name of Csanovsky:

On Michael's brother Joseph’s naturalization documents, which were filed in Indiana, Pennsylvania, it stated that when his mother Mary and her three sons (Joseph, Andrew and John) entered this country under the surname of Csanovsky. Documents from Ellis Island support this revelation but neither set of documents offer any explanation for the use of a second surname. One reason offered by relatives for the use of the surname Csanovsky was the existence of an immigration quota system that would have excluded them had they tried to enter the United States under the name of Timko. However, I have a problem with this explanation. It would imply that the family stated their surname and discovered that the country was too full of Timkos. And if that was the case, upon learning this valuable bit of information, did they simply tell the customs official, “I made a mistake. My real surname is Csanovsky.” There has to be more to the story.

And there is one additional point that should be included with this discussion of surnames. The father’s surname recorded on Joseph’s birth certificate from Slovakia was Istvan Timko Csanovsky. The name Csanovsky was used fourteen years prior to Joseph’s immigration. Whether the original surname of the family was Csanovsky or Timko, we may never know. All we know for certain was the surname Csanovsky was used to enter the United States and for some reason abandoned in favor of the surname Timko. While both the Csanovsky & Timko names were recorded on early documentation, only the surname Timko survived.

Education

Michael graduated from Clymer High School in Clymer, Indiana County, Pennsylvania in 1930. My Great Uncle Michael was the second of Stephen’s son to graduate from high school. He also had the distinction of being the class valedictorian. No bad for a coal miner’s son. I wonder what his parents thought of their son’s achievement?

In the Clymax, his high school’s year book, it shows that Michael took part in a variety of extracurricular activities including the Science Club, Yearbook Staff, as well as others.

As was not uncommon in those early years, quaint rhymes were often created for each graduating senior and printed next to the graduate’s yearbook photograph. Michael was no exception and his was as follows:

Mike, as you know, is the lad,

Who is quiet, but bright, that’s his fad.

His ambition is high,

And that is the “why,”

He’s so happy when exams make us sad!

After his high school years, young Michael attended Penn State University for two years but never graduated from the university.

Military Service Years

Michael Joseph Timko in uniform

Private First Class Michael Joseph Timko in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He enlisted in the US Army on 6 Nov 1942 and released on 9 Sep 1943. He was Shipping Clerk in the Army Air Corps. Qualifications in arms: Marksman. Army specialty: Checker(186). Character: Excellent. He served at the Army Air Base, Biggs Fields, Texas; 1112th Quartermaster Company Service Group (Avn). He was later stationed in Miami Beach, Dade Co, FL in 1943

Military Services: U.S. Army Air Corps

Family Years

Michael met his future wife Thelma Irene Jones, she went by Irene, while he was stationed at a war-production plant near Willow Run, Washtenaw County, Michigan. The county records show they were married on April 12, 1944 in Willow Run, Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Over the next twenty-one years, the young couple would have three children: Cathy Janean, Amy Dee and Channon Jo-Maree.

The three children of Michael and Irene are as follows;

• Cathy Janean Timko
• Amy Dee Timko
• Channon Jo-Maree Timko

Residences

• Lived in Dixonville, Indiana Co, PA in 1935
• Lived at 769 Maple Street in Warren, Trumbull Co, OH in 1940 as an unmarried lodger living with his brother Paul Timko
• Lived at 280 Idylwild St. in Warren, Trumbull Co, OH in 1950
• Lived at 833 Hollywood NE in Warren, Trumbull Co, OH in 1985
• Lived at 8620 High St. NE in Howland, Trumbull Co, OH in 1989

Working Years

Michael was employed as a group leader for the tool room for Packard Electric Division, General Motors Corporation..

Personal Life

Mike could spend hours alone. He was very intelligent and studious. He would read or draw for hours. Also, he spent a lot of time with his camera. He was a good father though and he spent a lot of time with the girls.

He loved to compete in Table Tennis, and liked to photograph and sketch.

He was founder and past president of the Warren-Trumbull County Table Tennis Assoc. He was a table tennis champion and had won many trophies during the 1950s and 1960s

Death

Michael died from congestive heart failure on March 1, 1989 at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.

He was buried on March 3, 1989 at Howland Township Cemetery in Howland, Trumbull County, Ohio.