Joseph Zurick

1942 - 2021

Zurick, Joseph
Mar 25, 1942 - Feb 10, 2021
Joseph Zurick, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 78 on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida. Joe, as most people knew him, was born on March 25, 1942 to George V. Zurick and Rose Mary (Horwat) Zurick. He grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania along with his siblings George, Anne, Bernard, Emma and John. Joe married the love of his life, Rita, on August 22, 1963. They had one son, Mark, and two grandchildren, Maura and Mark. Joe was a fighter, a jokester and had the biggest heart. He loved to laugh and make people smile with jokes and funny stories. While Rita did most of the cooking, Joe made delicious creamy rigatoni that became a family favorite. He spent decades working for UPS and Pepsi before retiring and focusing on his favorite job of being grandpa. There was nothing Joe loved more than his family. He was a loving father who never missed a single one of his son's high school or college football games.
He was especially proud of his son Mark for becoming a pilot and captain for Southwest Airlines. Joe was a wonderful grandfather who loved spending time with his grandchildren, from weekend sleepovers at Gram and Pap's house to summer vacations and holiday visits. He was also a devoted husband, spending his days loving and caring for his wife of 57 years. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Anne Shirey. He is survived by his wife, Rita; his son Mark and his wife Sharon; his granddaughter Maura Zurick and her fiancé Patrick Tyler; his grandson Mark Zurick; and four of his siblings: George Zurick, Bernard Zurick, Emma Gharing and John Zurick. Visitation and services will be held in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association. To donate or find more information about the association, go to www2.heart.org. To sign the online guest book, send condolences, or share a story, please visit www.lopatichbrinker.com.