Skook News Obituaries: September 21, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Shenandoah on January 2, 1947, Joseph was the son of the late Walter and Martha (Staskiewicz) Lapatovich. Joseph was also preceded in death by a brother, Richard Lapatovich, who passed away two weeks prior on September 1, 2023, and his beloved yellow Labrador, Lily.
Joseph was a 1964 graduate of the former Shenandoah High School. In 1965, Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving in the Vietnam War. While in the Marine Corps, Joseph received the National Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. Joe was honorably discharged from the USMC as a Sergeant E-5.
After serving his country, Joseph held a variety of jobs in the manufacturing industry in the Hazleton area. In 1999, Joe made a career move and became a Corrections Officer at the State Correction Institution Mahanoy from which he retired in 2018.
Joseph married the former Patricia M. Tutko on May 3, 1980. They enjoyed 43 years of marriage together before Joe's untimely passing. In those years, they built a tight-knit family with two daughters - Kelly Lynn (Michael) Freed and Kathryn "Katie" (Dustin) Hansell. Joe is also survived by his five grandchildren, Zachary, Harper, Hannah, Norah and Harlow who will always know Joe as their "Poppy." Also surviving are 3 siblings - Dr. Walter Lapatovich (Penny), Judy Hjelm (Robert) and Marian Long (George), several nieces and nephews.
Joe loved his wife's cooking, could be found hiking for miles on a nice day, watching the Baltimore Orioles, Indianapolis Colts, Penn State, or sitting back, enjoying his backyard listening to 70's Rock. Most of all, Joe loved his family and friends fiercely. Poppy instilled selflessness, a hard work ethic, kindness and perseverance into all he left behind.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Joseph and his brother, Richard on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 10:00 am in Saint Casimir Church, 229 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment with Marine Corps Military Honors will follow for both Joe and Rick in Our Lady of Dawn Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. A visitation will be held at Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah on Thursday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Friday morning from 8:00 am until 9:30 am.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
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Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home Inc. 901 Centre Street Ashland, PA 17921 has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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