Born: August 9, 1942 - Deceased: July 7, 2024
Joseph A. Wotchko, 81, of Collinsville, IL, born Sunday, August 9, 1942, in Livingston, IL, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Autumn Meadows of Cahokia in Cahokia Heights, IL.
Joseph worked as a Boiler Operator for Mallinkrodt. He was a private and commercial licensed pilot, Life Member of VFW Post 1241, Staunton, IL, and a proud United States Army veteran who served during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
He was preceded in death by his:
- Father: Sylvester Wotchko
- Mother: Frances, nee Ocepek, Cirar, Wotchko, Polovich
- Brother: Richard Wotchko
- Sister: Frances Cirar Snyder
- Nephews:
- Ricky Wotchko
- Leonard Wotchko
- Donald Tusek
- Niece: Carol Snyder
- Uncles:
- Mike Ocepek
- Martin Ocepek
- Joe “Coogan” Ocepek
- Anton Ocepek
- Frank Ocepek
- Step-great granddaughter: Valerie Grace Bartony
Surviving are his:
- Wife: Judy Wotchko of Collinsville, IL
- Step children:
- Laverne Russell “Lee”(Eva) Bartony of Williamson, IL
- Tahtia Lynette Pierce of Balsom Lake, WI
- Sister: Pauline Tusek of Oak Brook, IL
- Nieces
- Vivian Tusek
- Joann Petty
- Step-grandchildren:
- Joseph Lee Donald Bartony
- Quentin Michael (Mariya) Bartony
- Veronica Grace (Keefer) Bartony
- Cyrus Scott Bartony
- Hugh Jasper Bartony
- Step great grandchildren:
- Adrianna Bartony
- Scarlett Bartony
- Draven Bartony
- McLean Bartony
- Winifred Bartony
- Olin R. Bartony
- Dorothy R. Bartony
- Maddie Bartony
- Numerous nieces and nephews
Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Any animal shelter or Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Funeral: A Funeral Procession will leave Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville at 10:15 a.m., Wednesday, July 17, 2024 for an 11:00 a.m. graveside service with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, in St. Louis, MO with Father Clyde Grogan officiating.
4 Comments
We will miss my Uncle Joe and remember him for his love of pets, the Cardinals, devotion to the Veterans. love of flying small airplanes, and his ability to play a Hawaiian guitar. Always an interesting conversation with Joe around—he was opinionated, I will always appreciate the kindness, time and patience he took to call my mother Pauline Cirar Tusek, 14 years his senior, and the numerous visits to her and his sister Frances Cirar Snyder when they could no longer travel and my Aunt Fran’s health was declining. The three of them enjoyed talking about old times and what a happy childhood and great family they had, especially mentioning their mom, grandma, and uncles who paid so much attention to them all and gave them so much love. Joe stayed at our house when he first graduated from high school and worked nearby until he enlisted in the Army. Years later, my late brother Donald and Joe made it an annual event to see a Cubs-Cardinals game in Chicago each season, so they got to know each other quite well. My mom would cook huge breakfasts and dinners for him, she was so happy to see her brother. No sooner had he finished one meal she was cooking another. That’s how their grandmother was, so it was their way to treat company too.
God Bless You, Uncle Joe. Rest in Peace.
Joe was a loving brother and Judy is my dear sister-in-law. So sorry that you are gone, Joe, we will all miss you and will pray for your soul and spirit. Joe was a really good younger brother and had many friends that loved him too. As his sister, I know how much he love us all as well. Despite the distance, he kept in touch with us by many phone calls and numerous trips to the Chicago area. He enjoyed our mom and grandma’s Slovenian recipes and the home cooking they prepared. We have great memories of these happy times in our childhood. He is now with many other relatives who have already left our earth, and whom we will all join again one day. May God open the Heavenly Gates to us all. We have lost a good soul with a loving heart and will keep praying for Joe and his eternal peace. All my Love and Trust in God.
A few more memories from my mom’s old album.
Leave a reply if you can remember your relatives. Frances his mom, Uncles, Tony & Helen, Rita & Frank, Frances & Pete Snyder, Joes grandma, little boy is Joe, older boy is his brother Richard..
Middle picture is L to R Uncles, sister Pauline, Grandma and his mom Frances and her husband John Polovich, kneeling in front Pete Snyder, Joe & Richard Wotchko, an Uncle John? from Europe.
Third picture, 1941 a year before Joe was born, Frances and Pauline Cirar in front, his mom Frances back right, little boy his brother Richard(?), Uncles.
Bottom picture (October 1941): Left to Right: Frances Cirar Snyder, behind her Pete Cappaletti, Mary Cirar, Pauline Cirar Tusek, behind Pauline is Uncle Tony Ocepek, woman is Aunt Fanny Cirar, woman in dark clothing is Great Grandma Madeline Golar, next is Sylvester Wotchko (Joe’s dad) holding Richard Wotchko (Joe’s brother), kneeling are Uncle Mike Ocepek and Cousin Tony Cirar.