John T. Kosempa, 91, of DuBois died peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015 at Penn Highlands DuBois.
He was born March 6, 1924 and the son of the late John and Rose L. (Wiercioch) Kosempa. He attended school in DuBois, graduating in 1941.
He served proudly in the U.S. Army Air Corp in the South Pacific during World War II.
On Sept. 9, 1950, he married Julia B. Sekula, and they recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
He was a hard worker who took great pride in his work. He was a master craftsman, designing, engraving and erecting granite monuments in cemeteries all over western Pennsylvania for 32 years.
His work resulted in time-honored memorials of lost loved ones, bringing great comfort to many grieving families over the years.
His next career, which he also enjoyed immensely, was at DuBois Regional Medical Center in the maintenance department. After 16 years at DRMC, he retired in 1993 to begin what he referred to as “a life of leisure.”
He and his wife especially loved to fish, travel to visit family and play cards. Additionally, even into his late 80’s, he enjoyed gardening and was always willing to share fresh, healthy, home-grown produce with family and friends.
He had a strong faith in God and was an active member of the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. He was a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and son.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Julia; his children, Damian Kosempa of York, Denise M. Retzlaff and her husband, Paul of Florida, John T. Kosempa and his wife, Perye of North Carolina, Mary Jo Kosempa of DuBois and Roseanne Hammeke and her husband, Albert of Connecticut; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Julie; his brothers, Mike, Joe, Carl, and Frank; his sister, Mary Lommock; his infant brother, Jacob; and infant twin great-granddaughters, Lilly and Caiden Keenan.
There will be no public visitation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church with Fr. Daniel Kresinski as celebrant.
Burial will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery.
The family requests that memorials be made to DuBois Central Christian High School, P.O. Box 567, DuBois, PA 15801.
Online condolences may be sent to www.gbfuneralhome.com.