Obituary of Joseph Manuel Perez

Joseph Manuel Perez Sr., 86, of Pennsylvania Furnace, died on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College. Born on March 20, 1930, in Plymouth, PA he was the son of the late Jerome and Anna Keralevich Perez. On November, 25, 1954 he married Patricia Lynott who preceded him in death on June 4, 2000. On May 4, 2003, he married Elizabeth "Liz" Martz Fink, who survives. Also surviving are four children, Joseph M. Perez Jr. and his wife, Debra, of Seattle, WA, Jerome R. Perez and his wife, Maggie, of Sycamore, IL, Michael J. Perez and his wife, Sheri, of Peoria, IL and Matthew D. Perez of State College; four step-children, Sheryl Ann Davy and her husband, Alan, of Raleigh, NC, Connie Lou Gensimore and her husband, Daniel, of Centre Hall, Susan Lee Bogert and her husband, Dale, of Warriors Mark and David Paul Fink of Boalsburg; one brother, Jerome Perez and his wife, Dorothy, of Poughkeepsie, NY; fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Mary Kachmariek, an infant daughter, Mary Rita and his daughter, Patricia Ann Murray in 2006. He was a 1947 graduate of Larksville, PA High School. He received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Kings College in Wilkes Barre, in 1955. He received his Master's and PhD in Petroleum Chemistry from Penn State University in 1960 and 1964. Joe was a Captain in the United States Navy, serving from 1951 until 1955 during the Korean Conflict. He remained active in the Reserves 60 and thirty years. He retired from Penn State University as a Professor Emeritus in 2012. Joe was a member of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Visitation will be 6 until 9 p.m., on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral service will be at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 867 Grays Woods Blvd, Port Matilda, with the Father Charles Amershek officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m., on Thursday, October 20, 2016, in Blair Memorial Park, 3234 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd, Altoona Memorial contributions may be made to Kings College, to the Jerome and Mary Perez Endowment Fund, Attn: Mr. Fred Pettit, 133 N River St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.