Jeffery Michael “Jeff” Belcik
Jeffery Michael “Jeff” Belcik, age 47, of Crestline, died naturally and unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 while in Pennsylvania where he was traveling for business.
Jeff was born July 21, 1976 in Oregon, Ohio to Thomas Charles and Kathleen (Jarosz) Belcik. Jeff was a 1994 graduate of Rossford High School where he played football and baseball and was incredibly proud to consider himself an alumnus of The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. A loyal and dedicated employee, Jeff worked for the same company for 28 years beginning in the warehouse at what was then Ozburn-Hessey Logistics and working his way up the ranks to his current role as VP of Field IT at GEODIS.
As it was kindly written by a co-worker, “Jeff started his career on the warehouse floor and has always felt most comfortable in the warehouse- ready to help in whatever way was needed. He was always willing to teach me the ropes of the warehouse when I first entered this role, and whenever I called him to help, he made me feel that he was happy to be there, never out of obligation.” This summary was not only true of him at work, but it exemplifies what made Jeff Belcik the man he was. He was always present, was never “voluntold” but always the first to volunteer, and would consistently be the person who would stand up and do his part when no one else offered.
A member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Jeff had served as the Director of PSR and coached CYO basketball for the Panthers. He was a proud supporter of Crestline Bulldog Athletics, currently serving as the Treasurer for the Crestline Athletic Boosters, and consistently was working the scoreboard, keeping the books, coaching, and ever present as a fan. Jeff was an enthusiast of The Ohio State University Buckeyes and even stayed strong as a Detroit Tigers fan through the good and the bad. Traveling to visit baseball stadiums was a must and, together with his son, Finnegan, had been to 22 of the 30. In addition, Jeff was always the greatest host and chef at “Lake Belcik” where so many family and friends have celebrated and shared memories over BBQ or campfire with a cold beer. Jeff was kind, easy to love, and hard to dislike- strangers rarely existed in his world.
Jeff is survived by his wife of nearly 18 years, Molly Jean (Finnegan) Belcik, whom he wed on October 22, 2005; their children: Finnegan, Bridget, and Rudy; parents: Tom and Kathy Belcik of Perrysburg; brother and sister-in-law: Jim and Jennifer Belcik of North Ridgeville and their children: Lucy and Nicholas; mother-in-law: Barbara Finnegan of Crestline; in-laws: Tanya Hartings, Shannon Finnegan, Rhonda (Dave) Gregson, Erin Finnegan, and Megan (Madison) Ratliff and their families; God parents: Rosalie Richards and Richard Jarosz; and aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends. Jeff was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Henry and Mary Jarosz; paternal grandparents: George and Florence Smith and John and Betty Belcik; and father-in-law: Ronald Finnegan.
Family and friends are welcome on Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 1-6 pm at the Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875 where a wake service will take place at 6 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 11 am at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 5742 State Route 61 South, Shelby, Ohio 44875. Fr. Jeff Smith will be the celebrant with burial following in the church cemetery.
For those wishing, memorial contributions may be made for a fund to be established assisting with the Belcik children’s college education. Checks can be made payable to Molly Belcik and left in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be left on Jeff’s obituary on the funeral home’s website, www.PenwellTurner.com, or their Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/PenwellFuneral.
To view Jeff’s tribute video, click the provided link: Jeffery Michael “Jeff” Belcik Tribute Video
My deepest sympathy to the Belcik family. May God continue to comfort and guide you through this very difficult time.
I enjoyed talking with Jeff and hearing about the latest adventures of Finnegan, Bridget and Rudy. He was very proud of his kiddos.
May God continue to comfort and guide you through this very difficult time!
I enjoyed talking to Jeff about Molly’s and his adventures with Finnegan, Bridget and Rudy. He enjoyed being with his family and it showed.
Continued prayers!
My sincerest condolences on your loss and know how much Jeff meant to so many others he impacted over the years.
What good story does not start with; there we were……
There we were in California supporting a start-up. The customer had us committed to an aggressive timeline, supporting a startup going into peak and executing a new product introduction with a rookie team. The cherry on the cake was we also had new scope of supporting VIP orders which was a new process for us as well. Murphy’s Laws swirled around us like a whirlwind and inadvertently the VIP inventory got allocated to Non-VIP orders and consumed. Failing was not an option and when I asked Jeff if we could leverage de-activated instance of the WMS that was no longer used to support the process if we could find more inventory; could we make it happen? After he initially gave me classic IT middle finger, he reflected put on his cowboy spurs and saddled up with is old Operations buddy for a fun ride. With a Diet Moutain Dew in his left hand and mouse in the right the magic unfolded. Within hours we had the old instance ready to support orders and then he got to laugh watching me pick and pack the orders. Mission accomplished and when I say they were VIP orders they were truly VIP orders. I can’t share a better story of what a great person Jeff B was to me and the company. When its crunch time and needed a partner to lean on Jeff was that man. I will miss him dearly and hope this little tale lets you know what a special person he was to so many…….
Very sad to hear of Jeff’s passing. He was a kind man! There are no words that we can say that would comfort his family at this time.Just know we care….may the souls of the faithly departed rest in peace.
So sorry to hear of Jeff’s passing. Although I did not know him for very long, he always had a smile on his face. Thinking of you Molly and the kids. You are all in my prayers.
My sympathy and prayers go out to Jeff’s family. He was such a good man and friend. I am so sorry to hear of his passing
Paulette Rex
To Tom, Kathy, Jim, and the Jarosz Family. I am so sad to hear this. You have my love and prayers. I remember all the times in church, watching our kids grow. Bless you all. I’ll see you soon love Debbie
What a wonderful man. May you know that you were loved by many. RIP and know you are going to be in God’s hands. Blessings and prayers to the entire family. The James family.
Jeff led by example and when the IT work allowed, you could always find him on the floor tirelessly doing any job that needed to be done. Jeff has been behind the scenes of success for so many. I didn’t have the pleasure of a lot of time with Jeff but the time I did have was plenty to know this will leave a mark. Prayers to the family. Rest in peace Jeff ❤️.
Jeff gave me a career above just a warehouse IT job. He mentored me & it stuck long after I transitioned careers to a new one. The work ethic he fostered in the hearts of those around him was beyond charismatic. Jeff saw goals as missions & people mattered beyond any objective. When we achieved we achieve it together. Our team was solid & it was because of him & his genuine care for his teammates. He was never a typical stuffy “Boss” but the best Leader I ever had the privilege to fight along side. It was truly an honor to call him Boss but even greater the day I realized I had a great friendship too. My family & I received holiday dinners a time or 2 in desperate times. All from this man despite living hundreds of miles away. I’m am sad to not get more chances to share our appreciation & all the moments like these we tried to highlight here. (Nods at Frank H.) There are so many adventures with this man. I know he knows how much we all will miss him. Cheers dude
Dear Cousin Molly and kiddos, my deepest sympathies go out to you. Such a good man and patriarch gone too soon. However, the older I get the words ring so true “you’ll get your reward in heaven” we all know he will and deserves it. Until you’re all together again May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Molly and family,
My deepest sympathies for your loss. May our Blessed Mother hold you in her arms during this most difficult of times.
My heart aches for all your family as I know how difficult it is to lose a husband and father, especially when children are so young! Jeff sounds like he was a wonderful man, so very sorry for your loss! Keeping you all in prayer!
Tom and Kathy, my heartfelt condolences to you on your son’s passing. My prayers are with you and the entire family.
Molly and children,
I am so sorry to hear of Jeff’s passing. Please know you will all remain in my prayers. If I can be of any help please let me know.
Prayers and condolences to the family. May God comfort you through this storm.
Molly,
I am sorry for your loss of a husband, Dad, son, uncle and just a consummate good guy. May you find peace and comfort during this difficult time. Know that I am thinking of you and your family.
My deepest sympathy to the entire Belcik family and extended family. God bless you all at this time, sending you all strength and prayers. May you rest in peace Jeff
Condolences to the family.
I have known Jeff for most of my 21 years with company and ran into him in several facilities around the country and many times on meetings with him and was always impressed with his style witht he customer and his knowledge and willingness to help and teaching along the way.
I will have good memories of Jeff going forward and he will be missed!!!
My deepest sympathy to all of the Belcik family and friends. This is a beautiful obituary: a tribute to a disciple of Christ as shown by his life full of people and love. Through your sorrow and grief, I hope that you find comfort in each other and knowing so many others grieve for your loss.
I am writing to express my deepest condolences and to share my heartfelt memories of Jeff, who was not just a colleague but a cherished friend and mentor.
I first crossed paths with Jeff in July 2015 at OHL, now GEODIS, where he led one of the largest customer accounts. In the demanding realm of Supply Chain & Logistics, where priorities often clash, Jeff and I weathered the highs and lows, building a bond that transcended professional ties; we became brothers.
What set Jeff apart was his ability to find joy in the midst of pressure. I could never complete a funny line with him because he’d burst into laughter halfway through, anticipating the punchline. We had countless of these half-discussions, moments of shared laughter that defined our camaraderie.
During a time when professional challenges left me feeling low and lacking in confidence, fate intervened. Jeff, in the role of my reporting manager, emerged as my savior. Over the course of 1.5 years under his guidance, I discovered not just a leader, but the leader I had always yearned for – one who shielded me with unwavering support while simultaneously propelling me beyond my perceived limits.
Jeff wasn’t just a professional ally; he was a beacon of humanity. His kindness, mentorship, and genuine care for those around him set a standard that few could match. The pain his family is enduring is beyond measure, and my heart goes out to them.
In the face of life’s unpredictability, we are left only with memories. I find solace in knowing that Jeff’s legacy will endure through the positive impact he had on countless lives. Though I wish I possessed the power to bring him back, I recognize the limits of our existence and yield to the will of a higher power.
Please accept my sincere condolences, and may you find strength and solace in the cherished memories of Jeff’s remarkable life.
Please check this post on LinkedIn which show the love bestowed by his friends: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7131006416563113984/
Molly and children: My condolences on the loss of Jeff. Prayers for comfort coming your way.
Molly and children: My condolences on the loss of Jeff. Prayers for comfort coming your way and God guidance though this tough time.
My brother Mike and I grew up with Jeff and Jim during elementary school. Being as they were both is the same grades as we were at Alter/All Saints. Jeff and Mike and Jim and I. I recall him being such an avid Tigers fan as a kid and a great baseball player. He found me after church service at All Saints just a few months ago. We talked for a few minutes where we both introduced each other to our families and shared a few grade school memories. Mainly how he referred to me as “Small Fry.” I am truly grateful for that moment. I always thought of him as a big imposing teddy bear who would walk right up to me, stare me down and at the last second smile. You will be missed. On behalf of my family I extend my condolences to the entire Belcik family. May he rest in peace.
Deepest sympathies for the loss of a great co-worker, good friend, and an even better person. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this tough times. Jeff is always humble and carried a positive attitude all the time.
Molly and Family! So so sorry to hear the loss of your husband/dad. I never really knew him but when we would see you all in church you looked like such a sweet family. Since you, Molly, were my kids swim team coach years ago, I know just how awesome you are. This is such a shock and I am so saddened. May he rest in peace and may God grant you peace in the days to come!!!
My sincerest condolences on your loss. Jeff helped welcome me into the GEODIS family 8 years ago. He helped me when he did not have to and lead by a great example. When my son was moving to Ohio, I called Jeff to ask for advice on the best place for my grandson to be raised around the Akron area. He offered great advice and his friendship, if they needed anything. Jeff will be missed! God Bless! Prayers for the family! Rest Easy, my friend!
Dear Molly and family, we are so sorry for your loss. I only met Jeff once but I’ve heard such great things about him. I’m sure no words will ease your pain right now. Please know Bob and I are thinking of all of you. Carolyn and Bob Sayre
Kathy, Tom and extended family my heartfelt and deepest sympathy at this most difficult time! Our boys grew up together, attending grade school, church and sports and my understanding have kept in touch as they created their own families. Your in our thoughts and prayers! The Ramirez Family
My heartfelt sympathy to you Molly and your family. Prayers for God to wrap his loving arms around you during this difficult time. ❤️
I’m sorry for your loss I remember when I lived next door to you guys on Bates I was Mary LaGrange at the time now I’m married and my last name is Now Bateson you are in my prayers
Jeff, we hadn’t seen each other since Jonathan’s 40th birthday, but you were always in my thoughts. From my first days at OHL, the story about losing your truck in Memphis, the way you told the story of helping the CVS worker having a stroke or thinking the person in the OSU quad wasn’t moving. You always made sure we had a great time. I’ll see you down the road my friend.
Sending my deepest sympathies to the entire family. Jeff, like all of you, was a kind soul that made the world a better place. I’m so incredibly sorry that he has left us at such a young age. I know you will honor him and keep his memory ever present.
Love and condolences,
Kiley Clark
Dear Kathy and Tom, Our sincere sympathy on the passing of your son, Jeff. Know that you and your entire family are in our thoughts and prayers. Our Mass and Communion tomorrow will be for Jeff’s eternal rest with God. Jeff’s obituary was beautiful. May God bring you serenity.
With love and hugs, Marcia and Don Staczek and family
Kathy, Tom and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Jeff’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God’s peace and comfort find you and your family during this difficult time.
Debbie and John Kobylak
We are so sorry for your loss! Jeff was an incredible man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids. Pray God gives you comfort during this difficult time! ❤️
Thinking of you and your family, so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers for you all!
Dear Tom and Kathy and Jim I’m so sorry bout your loss I remember when I was your neighbor when I went lived on Bates Rd. I went by Mary LaGrange at the time Rih Jeff you will be missed once a bulldog is always a bulldog.
Rest in Peace, Jeff – every interaction I had with Jeff conveyed his intelligence, humanity, and grit. Gone far too soon!