Joseph Katusa
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St. George Serbian Orthodox Church member
Joseph Katusa, 85, of Carmichaels, died November 26, 2013, in Arden Court, Jefferson Hills.
Mr. Katusa was born July 11, 1928, in Crucible, a son of the late Joseph Sr. and Josephine Mladjenovich Katusa.
He was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Masontown.
During World War II, he served his country in the U.S. Merchant Marines. Later in life, he volunteered as a legislative chairman of the American Merchant Marines Veterans Association, working to successfully enact legislation by the U.S. Congress to recognize Merchant Marines during World War II. For his efforts, he was honored at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.
Mr. Katusa was a graduate of Waynesburg College and was a prominent businessman in the Carmichaels area. Later, he became a field engineer for SAI Consulting Engineers.
He was a past president of Carmichaels Chamber of Commerce, Junior Tamburitzans and American Society of Highway Engineers. He was a member of Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 354, Serb National Federation, American Legion Post 816 of Rices Landing and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491 of Carmichaels.
Mr. Katusa began work to start a group recognizing the Dalmatian region’s sons and daughters in America and to preserve their music and culture.
Surviving are three daughters, Sharon Pauley (Ed) of Tornado, W.Va., Christine Zupancic (John) of Bethel Park and Jacqueline (Paul) Okonak, of Nashua, N.H.; a son, David Katusa (Amy) of Newport, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Downs of Alexandria, Va., and Josephine Cote (Tom) of Sun City, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are his wife, Ann, who died May 15, 2012; an infant son; a brother, John Katusa; and a sister, Julie Bogucki.
Friends will be received from 10 a.m. to noon, the time of service, Saturday, November 30, in St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Masontown. The Very Rev. Dr. Rodney E. Torbic will officiate. Interment will follow in Laurel Point Cemetery, Carmichaels, with Full Military Rites accorded by American Legion Post 400 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491, Carmichaels.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Suite 3-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
The Lesako Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements, Paul M. Lesako Funeral, director/supervisor, 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, PA 15320, 724-966-5100. An obituary can be viewed at www.lesakofuneralhomeinc.com.