Joseph A. Kuhar, 76, a resident of Swoyersville, passed into eternal life unexpectedly on Wednesday evening, July 26, 2023, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

His loving wife is Sandra “Sandy” Metroka Kuhar. Joe and Sandy would have celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary on August 24^th.

Born on September 14, 1946, in Kingston, Joseph was one of six children born to the late John A. Kuhar and Mary Filler Kuhar.

Raised in Swoyersville, Joe was a graduate of the former West Side Central Catholic High School, Class of 1964, and the former Wilkes-Barre Business College, Class of 1966.

A veteran of the United States Army National Guard, Joe honorably served his country for 6 years with the 109^th Field Artillery Regiment, Kingston.

Prior to his retirement, Joe was employed as a salesman for the former Master Chemical Company, Wilkes-Barre, and, in his earlier years, he was employed as the northeast regional sales manager for the former Randustrial Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Joe was a faithful Catholic and a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Church, Swoyersville, now consolidated into the Parish of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he served as an usher, and as an altar boy during his youth. Always supporting his church, Joe was involved with the preparation and execution of the parish’s annual bazaar as well as various other fundraisers. During his years helping with the bazaar, he was famous for preparing the strawberry shortcakes.

An actively involved father, Joe was always there to support his precious girls. He was their softball coach when they played with the Swoyersville Softball league and served as the league president. When his daughter, Dawn, played basketball at Wyoming Valley West, he served as both president of the Girls Basketball Booster Club and as a stat keeper for the games. As his grandchildren came along, he was just as actively involved in their lives – he would move heaven and earth to spend time with them! He was their biggest fan at all their sporting events, and during the time that Covid kept children from attending school in-person, Joe stepped in to help with the homeschooling of his grandsons, Bryce and Braxtyn.

Joe epitomized the role of a loving and devoted family man. He was the greatest husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend that one could ask for. He was a friendly face to all he encountered along his life journey, and he gave of his time freely, unselfishly, and without reservation – he was, without a doubt, a true gentleman!

Although Joe’s family and friends will remember him best for his kindness, generosity, loving ways, and for always being impeccably dressed, his family will also remember him as being the best spelling bee study buddy; the greatest root beer float and clam dip maker; the finest pool baseball player that ever played; and the loyalist fan of the New York Yankees.

Joe was always an active man who enjoyed walking, biking, and playing tennis. Two years ago, he suffered a severe stroke and subsequent brain surgery, but he proudly bounced back from this setback, continuing, for the most part, where he left off.

In addition to his parents, John and Mary Kuhar, Joseph was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald Kuhar, and his sister, Mary Anne Zedolik.

Left to cherish Joe’s memory are his wife, Sandy, and their two daughters, Robyn Caiazzo and her husband, Russell, York; and Dawn Wenzel and her husband, Ethan, Mountaintop; his grandchildren, Delainy Ogurkis, Bryce Wenzel, Ella Caiazzo, and Braxtyn Wenzel; his brothers, John Kuhar and his wife, Carole, Shavertown; and Thomas Kuhar and his wife, Roseann, Mountaintop; his sister, Elaine Pugliese and her husband, Michael, West Pittston; his brother-in-law, John Zedolik, Mountaintop; his sister-in-law, Joan Kuhar, Mountaintop; as well as his numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Wednesday, August 02, 2023, at 9:30 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, with his nephew, the Reverend Father Jonathan P. Kuhar, Pastor of Saint John Neumann and Saint Paul the Cross Parishes, Scranton, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in the Denison Cemetery, Swoyersville.

Family and friends are invited to attend Joe’s viewing which will be held on Tuesday, August 01, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, at the funeral home.

To share a message of condolence with Joe’s family, you may visit the funeral home’s website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Joe’s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607, or by visiting www.shrinerschildrens.org.

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