Joseph J. Gerlesky, 83, of Olanta died Thursday at the Clearfield Hospital.
He was born on Jan. 19, 1928 in Barnesboro, a son of the late John and Kathryn (Haligoski) Gerlesky.
Mr. Gerlesky retired in 1991 after 26 years of service with U.S. Airways. Prior to that, he was employed by Curtis Wright for 12 years. He was a member of St. Timothy Catholic Church.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army. He was also a member of the Curwensville, the Bradford Veteran of Foreign Wars Posts, the Glen Richey Sportsman Club and the National Rifle Association.
He had a passion for hunting and fishing and enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter. He cherished time spent with his family, especially his great-grandson, Lucas.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn M. (Corio) Gerlesky, whom he wed Aug. 1, 1953 in Mt. Carmel Catholic Church; two children, Joseph Gerlesky of Sewickley and Kathy Gill and her husband, Randy of Olanta; eight grandchildren, Randy and his wife, Heather Gill, Shawn, Amanda and Jason Gill and Andy, Paul, Krista and Justina Gerlesky; a great-grandson, Lucas Gill; two brothers and a sister, Walter Gerlesky and his wife, Jean of New Jersey; Frank Gerlesky and his wife, Sylvia of Carrolltown and Louise Kotrick and her husband, Alex of Northern Cambria; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, John Klemack and Paul and Edward Gerlesky, and five sisters Virginia Casiere, Blanche Mezzella, Ann Hrubochak, Jean Olear and Helen Klemack.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Timothy Catholic Church, Curwensville, with the Rev. Mark J. Mastrian as celebrant. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Curwensville.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Clearfield American Legion and VFW Posts’ Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Monday at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars Robert Ferguson Post #842, 19 River St., Curwensville, or to the Glen Richey Sportsmen’s Club, 1814 Hemlock Hollow Rd., Glen Richey.