Isaac Junior Gore Sr., age 77, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026, in Chardon, Ohio. He has left the quiet of these past few years behind to be reunited in eternal love and laughter with his beloved wife, Sharon.

A Journey of Strength and Resilience

Isaac was born Isaac Junior Varner on April 9, 1949, in McMinnville, Tennessee, to Mary York and Grant Varner. As a young boy, his family relocated to Northeast Ohio. He was raised by Willie Isaac Gore and Mary York Gore, proudly taking the name of the man who raised him.

Isaac grew into a man built from the bedrock of the earth; burly, rugged, and steady, possessing an enduring strength rooted in his Southern soil. He had a deep, commanding voice that could make you sit up straight, yet it was filled with an immediate, protective warmth. A welder and skilled small engine repair technician by trade, Isaac possessed the hands of a true craftsman. He loved fixing things, tinkering on engines, and solving mechanical puzzles with the patient, focused grit of a bygone era.

He was a man of simple, unapologetic pleasures; he loved losing himself in old Western movies, possessed an appetite that could conquer a massive prime rib dinner, and drank his coffee exactly how he lived life, black.

Two Families, One Great Love Story

While Isaac lived a lifetime of chapters before crossing paths with the Greminger family, his marriage to Sharon Greminger-Gore in 2012 began a brilliant new story. Isaac was her devoted husband, partner in crime, and absolute protector for the final 13 years of her life. Because of Isaac, Sharon spent her final years unconditionally loved. Together, they were a force of joy; traveling, volunteering, and sharing an endless amount of laughter.

When Isaac married Sharon, he didn't just take a wife; he adopted an entire history. He threw his massive arms open to her grown children, accepting them entirely as his own. His heart effortlessly expanded to make room for every single new face.

Isaac was a pillar of stoic toughness, but his heart was measured by what it broke for. One of only times he was ever seen to weep was when Sharon passed away in 2021. The years since her passing were heavy, and though filled with bright moments with family, he deeply missed his match. Today, his family takes comfort in knowing they are together again, trading jokes and sharing a laugh.

A Legacy of Magic and Community Service

Beneath his rugged exterior lay an incredibly generous heart. Isaac was deeply committed to feeding his community, volunteering his time with Meals on Wheels and the Cleveland Food Bank. Alongside his late wife, Sharon, he also helped found the Workmen’s Circle Food Bank - Mitzvah Pantry.

To the children in his life, he wasn't just Pop; he was "Santa Pops." Isaac channeled pure magic, portraying Santa Claus for years at his grandson's portrait studio, and later volunteering for local churches and community programs. He carried the spirit of giving in his very bones and identified with the role so completely that he will be laid to rest in his favorite Santa suit.

Family Left Behind

Isaac was predeceased by his birth parents, Grant Varner and Mary York Gore; the father who raised him, Willie Isaac Gore; his beloved wife, Sharon Greminger Gore; and his siblings, Marie, Eugene, Joe, Willie, Patty, and Susie.

He is survived by his brother, Donny (Marlene) Gore.

He leaves behind a large, beautifully blended family who adored him. He is survived by his children: Laurie (Lawrence Lee) Koss, Corey Lilley, Truman Joseph Gore, Cassandra M. Gore, Isaac Junior Gore Jr., Jack (Nancy) Greminger, and Nancy Joy Henkin.

He was the cherished grandfather to Joshua Pierce, Angel Cunningham, Novah Ford, Louis Cunningham, Matthew Greminger, Justin Greminger, Jeanne Greminger, Chelsi Greminger, Jacob Henkin, and Zachary Henkin, as well as Sarah and Steven Berch. He is also survived by a legacy of many great-grandchildren, as well as numerous extended family members and friends.

Rest in peace, Pop. The silence is over, the fire is in the hole, and your memory will forever be a profound blessing.