Joseph Katkowski spent most of World War II taking care of soldiers in France. And it didn’t matter if they were American or German soldiers. He was always there to help, his daughter Nancy Katkowski said.
Spending two years overseas as an Army medical technician, Joseph Katkowski saw plenty of things, including a Christmas Eve mass in Notre Dame — something his daughter did not know until the church caught fire in April.
And Nancy Katkowski loved “spending time with him and just hearing about things they did. He has so much history,” she said.
Joseph W. Katkowski of Level Green died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, at Harmar Village Care Center. He was 95.
Born Dec. 29, 1923, in Claridge, he was the son of Anthony and Anna Katkowski.
After leaving the Army, Mr. Katkowski moved back to Claridge and started working in a coal mine with his father, eventually accepting a position as an inspector with Westinghouse Air Brake.
Meeting his wife in 1950, the duo raised two daughters and traveled to Florida, Georgia, California, North Carolina, Louisiana and the Bahamas.
“Somebody hooked them up, and they met at a dance they went to. They’ve been together since then,” Nancy Katkowski said, adding the couple was together for 62 years until his wife, Margaret Katkowski, died in 2012.
In his free time, Mr. Katkowski enjoyed watching Penguins, Pirates and Steelers games.
“He always was doing something,” his daughter said. “He never really sat around. He was always doing something down in the garage. He did some woodworking; he built a deck when he first retired. He was very handy.”
Mr. Katkowski was a member of St. Regis Church in Trafford.
“My dad was a quiet person,” his daughter said. “He was proud to be a veteran.”
In addition to his daughter, Nancy Katkowski, he is survived by daughter Teresa A. DiCesare; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at John M. Dobrinick Funeral Home, 702 Seventh St., Trafford. Parting prayers will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home, followed by a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Regis Church.
Interment with military honors will follow at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Monroeville.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Regis Church, 517 Homewood Ave., Trafford.
