John "Timothy" Kaibas of Sharpsville passed away peacefully at 3:58 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in his home with his daughters by his side. He was 76.

Mr. Kaibas was born February 11, 1941, in Sharon, a son of Julius and Elizabeth Zimmerman Kaibas. He was a lifelong area resident and 1959 graduate of Farrell High School.

Following high school, Tim was offered an athletic scholarship to play football at Michigan State University, and later transferred to Youngstown State University where he played the remainder of his collegiate career. While attending Youngstown State, Tim became an officer of the local chapter of Tau Omega fraternity and was instrumental in transitioning the fraternity to the national chapter, Delta Sigma Phi.

Following college he joined the U.S. Army Reserves, Farrell. He retired after many years working as a Master welder, Supervisor and Educator in the welding trade at Sharon Steel, and previously General American Corp. (GATX), Masury. While working at General American, Tim was recognized for creating an innovative welding technique to improve the durability and efficiency in train cars, both of which provided substantial financial gains for the company and are used to this day.

Tim was a longtime member of St. Joseph Church, Sharon.

He was a former Vice President of the Shenango Valley chapter of the Jaycees Foundation.

Tim was a purveyor of classic cars, particularly the Ford Mustang of which he
owned many throughout his life. He also built beautiful furniture for family and friends.

Tim met his beloved wife Cherie in high school and it was an everlasting love, now they will be reunited once again. Tim and Cherie travelled all across the country together before beginning a family. They were a very social couple who also had many friends and lovely gatherings. A gentle soul with a quick wit, he always made people laugh and feel comfortable.

He always said love of family is the most important thing in this life. "If mommy was the sun, he surely was our moon." His wife, the former Cherilyn Mary Galicia, whom he married July 18, 1964, passed away July 30, 1995.

Surviving are: two daughters, Lani Jo Kaibas; and Bethany Lynn Sincek and her husband Steve, all Sharpsville; a brother, James Kaibas and his wife Judy, Hermitage; a sister, Ursula, Wheatland and a sister-in-law, Violet Kaibas, Farrell; and three beautiful grandchildren, Aidan John, Hudson Stephen and Stella Cherilyn Sincek.

In addition to his wife, Tim was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Lilibeth Kaibas; and a brother, George E. Kaibas.

Calling hours will be 9 to 11 a.m. Friday ( 5-26-2017 ) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

A prayer service will be held at 11 a.m. , in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Friday , in St. Joseph Church, 79 Case Ave, Sharon, with Rev. Thomas Whitman, pastor, as celebrant.

Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery, Hermitage.