Joseph J. Parker

KULPMONT — Joseph J. Parker, 81, of 544 Chestnut St., died Wednesday, April 14, 2010, surrounded by his family at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was a patient since April 6, 2010.

Born in Shamokin, June 17, 1928, he was a son of the late John L. and Mary (Brown) Parker. He was a former resident of 315 N. Locust St., in Mount Carmel, until 2½ years ago when he moved to Kulpmont with his son, Kevin, daughter-in-law, Patty and granddaughters, Allison and Sara.

On November 23, 1950 in St. Stanislaus Church, Shamokin, he married the late Lorraine "Mitzi" Pogozelski, who preceded him in death on April 27, 1968. On June 12, 1969 in St. Paul's Chapel, Atlas, he married Mary Lou Tocyloski, who preceded him in death Feb. 15, 2000.

Joseph was employed as a superintendent at Glen Burn Colliery/Kerris and Helfrick Co., as well as being employed at Tuscarora Coal Company, Tuscarora. He retired from Northumberland County as an environmental mineral and energy coordinator.

He was a graduate of St. Edward's High School and attended Manhattan College.

Joseph was a member of the Church of Our Lady in Mount Carmel, past member of Shamokin Chamber of Commerce and member of Northumberland County Authority. In his day, he was an excellent basketball and baseball player, both in school and while serving in the military. He was an avid Philadelphia sports fan as well as a dedicated and devoted loving family man.

He served his country with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from Sept. 27, 1946 until he was honorably discharged on August 30, 1949. He received the World War II Victory Medal.

He is survived by two daughters, Sheila Kerstetter and her husband, Lamar D., of Montoursville, Cindy Yancoskie and her husband, Allen, of Annville; four sons, Joseph D. Parker and his wife, Diane, of Wilkesboro, N.C., Michael Parker, of Kulpmont, Kevin Parker and his wife, Patty, of Kulpmont and Jason Parker and his wife, Coryn, of Mount Carmel; 13 grandchildren, Allen Yancoskie and his wife, Jessica, of Mount Carmel Township, Eric Kerstetter and his wife, Heidi, of Bath, Amy Shadle and her husband, Michael, of Elysburg, Joshua Parker, of Westminster, Calif., Andrew Parker of Wilkesboro, N.C., Allison and Sara Parker, of Kulpmont, Damien and Justin Parker, of Kulpmont, and Kayla, Isabel, Eliza, and Jaxon Parker, of Mount Carmel; six great-grandchildren, Allen Yancoskie III and Giavanna Yancoskie, of Mount Carmel Township, Parker Joseph and Preston Michael Shadle, of Elysburg, Carter John and Brady Lamar Kerstetter, of Bath; a sister, Catherine "Kitty" Reed, of Elysburg, as well as nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

In addition to his parents and both his wives, he was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Kendal Grace Kerstetter and two brothers, John "Jack" Parker and Thomas Parker.



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PARKER — Joseph J. Parker, 81, of 544 Chestnut Street, Kulpmont. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Church of Our Lady, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel with The Rev. Francis Karwacki, officiating. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap. Viewing will be held Sunday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday with the Rosary at 8 p.m. and 8:00 and from 9 to 9:40 a.m. on Monday in the C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, Inc., 27 North Vine Street, Mount Carmel, C.J. Lucas, IV, Supervisor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 3544 Progress Avenue, Suite 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032. For additional information or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com