Joseph John "Joe" Kuchera

Joseph John “Joe” Kuchera

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Joseph John “Joe” Kuchera, of Canonsburg, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 15 while surrounded by loved ones. He was 76.

He was born in Canonsburg on January 11, 1940, the second of four children. His parents were Andrew Kuchera and Mary Kacvinsky, and his grandparents were John and Cecelia Kuchera and Joseph and Maria Kacvinsky.

As a retired United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Joe was heavily involved with the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA); he served as President of, and later Senior Advisor to, the Golden Triangle Chapter 259 of Pittsburgh, and as International President of the Association from 2003 to 2005. Joe also served on the committee that designed and implemented the Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C., and is honored at the memorial with his name inscribed on the monument. Earlier in his career, Joe served in the United States Army and worked for the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, as Career and Education Manager. He was a member of the VFW 191 and a member of their honor guard. In addition, he was a member and past commander of the American Legion post 902 in Houston, PA. Joe served as a Canonsburg volunteer fireman and EMT/Paramedic with the VFW 191 Ambulance Association, one of the first men honored to become a Paramedic in the Canonsburg Ambulance Association. Most recently, he worked as a security officer at the Meadows Racetrack.

Joe was well liked by all who knew him. He will be remembered by his family and friends for his booming laugh and wonderful sense of humor. Above all, he loved his family, and was overjoyed at the birth of each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Andrew Gilbert Kuchera, who passed away in 1990; and granddaughter, Sarah Foglia, who passed away in 1999.

He is survived by his loving wife Doris Ann; sister, Donna Burchak and her husband Mel of Crestview, FL; sister, Marcy Adamo and her husband Jack of Jupiter, FL; daughters, Deborah Hill of Canonsburg, Kim Mellor and her husband Brad of Clarksville, PA, and Tami Foglia and her husband Sam of Canonsburg; grandchildren, Karen Mellor and her husband David Kulivan of Bristow, VA, Jacob and Katie Mellor, Lindsay Hill, Rachel, Emily, and Megan Foglia; and great-grandchildren, Nathan and Violet Kulivan; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Friends are welcome from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra owner/supervisor, Lin Webb funeral director, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg 724-745-8120 where a funeral service will begin at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 20, 2016.  Interment will follow at 11:00 AM in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Twp., with full military honors accorded by the VFW Post 191 Honor Guard and the United States Air Force.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Joe’s name to The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.