Joseph Prischak

Joseph J. Prischak, age 91, of Millcreek Twp. And Naples Florida, passed away on May 21st, 2022 at St Vincent's hospital. Born February 26th, 1931, in West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late Andrew M. Prischak and Mary J. Prischak (Semanco).
Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Isabel (Jankowski) Prischak and 5 sons Dennis (Tara), Daniel (Toni), David (Norma), Douglas (Virginia) and Donald (Jennifer), 14 grandchildren Gabriel, Cielo, Nicholas, Valerie, Sara, Lauren, Marisol, Leah, Emma, Joseph II, Michael, Stella, Andrew, and Isabel II, 2 great grandchildren Gabriel Jr. and Henry Prischak, 2 step-grandchildren Riley and Kai, and 3 sisters Ann Dragon of Ashtabula, Ohio, Veronica Adkins, and Elaine Brzezicki (Robert) all of Erie, and many nieces, nephews, and beloved friends. Also, a sister-in-law Mary Ann Jankowski of State College, Pennsylvania. Beside his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Mary Forsythe and brother Andrew M. Prischak, Jr, four brothers-in-law, Colonel (US Army) Leonard B. Jankowski, James C. Forsythe, Elias Dragon and Edwin Adkins.
He graduated from Conneautville High School, Conneautville, Pa in 1949. From 1949 to October 1956, he was employed by The Erie Resistor Corporation and Penn Erie Mfg. where he learned the Plastic Mold making trade. During that time, he also served in the armed forces. He was a veteran of the US Army serving during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 being honorably discharged.
Along with 2 partners, he founded Triangle Tool Company in 1956 and bought them out in 1983. In 1971 he founded The Plastek Group of which he was President/CEO until his retirement in 2002.
In 1998 he founded Moldmaking Technology magazine to create a place for mold builders to share information and ideas and promote the business. It is recognized today as the premier publication in the industry.
In 2002 he founded Lake Erie Speedway which provided exciting, weekly racing to the Erie area and continues to this day with special events and other family friendly entertainment.
In 2007 he founded Africa 6000 International, a charity for drilling water wells in Tanzania and Kenya East Africa credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives. The 6000 in the name Africa 6000 represents the estimated 6000 children that die every day for the lack of clean water.
He was an officer in The Society of Plastics Engineers and the driving force of the founding of the Plastics Engineering and Technology program at Penn State Behrend University. He was also instrumental in starting up an identical program at The University of Bratislava, in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. In addition, he setup a collaboration program between Richmond Community College and Penn State Behrend to further opportunities in the Plastics Engineering education for students in the Richmond County and Hamlet NC area.
In 2021 he was elected to the Plastics Hall of Fame which is a global organization as a recognition of his many other contributions to the Plastics Industry.
He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Church and in his earlier years was active serving on many committees. The highlight was that of serving on the building committee for the construction of the new church beginning in January 1976.
Friends may call at the Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc on Thursday from 3 pm to 6 pm and also on Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm and are invited to the Funeral Mass Saturday at Our Lady of Peace Church at 10 am. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com
Entombment will be in Gate of Heaven Mausoleum.
Memorials may be made to Africa 6000 International, 2425 West 23rd St. Erie Pa 16506 or a charity of ones choice.