Tony Joseph Debevc of Madison, Ohio and the Chalet Debonne Winery died December 30 at the age of 94.

Tony left an ongoing legacy as a devoted husband, wonderful father and much loved grandfather and great-grandfather. He was born in Cleveland in 1916 and moved out to Doty Road in south Madison the following year. He lived, worked and played there his entire life.

As a young man, this proud Slovenian and self-professed ?simple man? brought his city-born bride, Rose Marie, to the farm where he tended Concord vineyards and worked various construction jobs to provide for her and their two children.

When the opportunity arose, in 1944, Tony purchased the 94 acres adjacent to his parent?s property and built a tiny two room cottage where he and his young family first lived. In 1947 and continuing for four years, amid tending vines, working at the Diamond and managing acres of hay and a small herd of cattle, he felled trees on the property to build the house in which he and Rose lived.

As a young couple, they and their cadre of friends, known to all as ?the Gang?, danced polkas with grace and elegance, played pinochle in the lean times and later traveled to Canada for fishing fun. After the winery brought more financial security, one of his favorite past times was fishing on Lake Erie from his boat docked at their condo on Marblehead. They then also traveled around the world, as well on motor coach trips across the country, always with members of the wonderful ?Gang?. In later years, his woodworking projects were shared with many friends and family. Regardless of good times or frugal ones, Tony and Rose put family first. They raised their children and influenced their grandchildren with a sense of responsibility, with respect for education, with a love of land and with an understanding of the importance of working hard to complete any task undertaken. Their home was always filled with much love and mutual support.

In the early 1970?s, when their son saw the opportunity to transform a then small Concord grape production into a potential winery, he and rose never hesitated to mortgage all they owned to launch what became their mutual dream. Over the years, Chalet Debonne has become one of the most respected wineries in the country. Among many other awards, in recognition of their work, the national trade publication Vineyard and Winery Management named the Debevc family as their first ?American Wine Family of the Year? in 1995.

Tony, or ?the Chairman? as he was known at the winery, loved his Niagara wine, tended miles of vines in every season (even in the coldest of winter), annually put up hundreds of bales of hay for the several head of cattle in the barn, enjoyed woodworking in his cellar each winter, filling orders in the juice house each fall. He rose each day to ?get up and get going?. He often said: ?When you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life?.

At his ninetieth birthday party, literally hundreds of friends gathered to celebrate his life well lived. He was physically strong, mentally tough and always kind to those around him. His joyful 67 year marriage to Rose has served as an inspiration to his children, grand-children and will serve as a model for the next generation to emulate.

He will be missed by all and his memory honored forever by those who so loved and respected him.

Tony is survived by his wife, Rose Marie (Petrovic); his daughter, Donniella (Larry) Winchell; sone, Anthony Paul (Beth); grandchildren, Cherilyn (Daniel) Long, Michelle (Chad) Edgar, mark (Stacie) Winchell, Amanda Debevc, Tony Scott Debevc and great-grandchildren, Victoria, Madeline and Vivian Long, Colt, Reed and Helaina Edgar and Gabriella and Jake Winchell. He is also survived by his sisters, Dorothy (Frank) Zupscan and Agnes (Norman) Beebe. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marijana (Germak) and Anton Debevc; infant sister, Antoinette, and a sister, Julia (George) Grabelsek.

Friends will be received 4-7:00 pm, Sunday, January 2, 2011, at the Behm Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, 26 River Street, Madison, Ohio.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am, Monday, January 3, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Church, 2846 Hubbard Road, Madison, Ohio.

Final Resting Place will be Fairview Cemetery in Madison.

Contributions may be made to Assumption School, 30 Lockwood, Geneva, OH 44041 or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, OH 44119.