IN LOVING MEMORY OF
George J.
Kusich Jr.
October 13, 1932 – May 14, 2016
Obituary
George J. Kusich, Jr. of Hermitage and former longtime resident of Greenville passed away peacefull
y Saturd
ay afternoon, May 14, 2016, in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System, after a brief illness.
He was 83.
Mr. Kusich was born October 13, 1932, in Greenville, a son of George and Anna Capan Kusich.
He was a 1951 graduate of the former Penn High School, Greenville, and enlisted in the service for four years in December of that same year.
George served as a staff sergeant in finance for the US Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California for most of his tour of duty.
Following his honorable discharge, he married the love of his life, the former Violet Balach, on August 25, 1957, in the former St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Vladimir Suka presiding.
George was employed at the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Camp Reynolds) and the Bessemer RR Co. before working 33 years at the former Greenville Steel Car (Trinity Industries) in Greenville as an air break tester. He was the financial secretary of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local #1653 and a Bargaining Committee Chairman of its Political Action Committee.
Upon his retirement in September of 1997 the local union hall was officially renamed Kusich Hall in his honor.
George was an active member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Hermitage, where he was a former board member.
He loved the outdoors, especially taking care of and decorating his yard.
His other hobbies included watching sports, particularly any of the Cleveland teams, and going to the casino with his wife where he enjoyed blackjack and betting on any other pools he could get into.
His greatest passion was his family. He loved participating in the events and activities of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Besides his wife, Violet, he is survived by: four children, John Kusich and his wife Lisa, Hermitage; Christine Austin and her husband David, Jamestown; Bryan Kusich and his wife Susan, Freedom, PA; and Georgann Mittal and her husband Steven, also Hermitage; 11 grandchildren, Bambi, Shawn, Tyler, Samantha, Megan, Melissa, Jordan, Nathaniel, Emiley, Madeleine and Carly; and 3 great-grandchildren, Dante and twins, Marley and Dijana.
He also leaves a brother, Nick Kusich and his wife Nell, Greenville; a sister, Martha "Tootsie" Mariacher and her husband Jack, Colden, NY; and many cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
George was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Olga Tenkewich and Mildred Mrvos.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 65 S. Keel Ridge Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148.
Calling hours will be fro m 4 to 8 p. m. o n Monday, May 16, 20 16, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Funeral service will b e 1 p. m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Hermitage.
Interment: St. John Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honors by the West Middlesex VFW, Wheatland American Legion and Farrell VFW honor guard.
Mr. Kusich was born October 13, 1932, in Greenville, a son of George and Anna Capan Kusich.
He was a 1951 graduate of the former Penn High School, Greenville, and enlisted in the service for four years in December of that same year.
George served as a staff sergeant in finance for the US Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California for most of his tour of duty.
Following his honorable discharge, he married the love of his life, the former Violet Balach, on August 25, 1957, in the former St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Vladimir Suka presiding.
George was employed at the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Camp Reynolds) and the Bessemer RR Co. before working 33 years at the former Greenville Steel Car (Trinity Industries) in Greenville as an air break tester. He was the financial secretary of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local #1653 and a Bargaining Committee Chairman of its Political Action Committee.
Upon his retirement in September of 1997 the local union hall was officially renamed Kusich Hall in his honor.
George was an active member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Hermitage, where he was a former board member.
He loved the outdoors, especially taking care of and decorating his yard.
His other hobbies included watching sports, particularly any of the Cleveland teams, and going to the casino with his wife where he enjoyed blackjack and betting on any other pools he could get into.
His greatest passion was his family. He loved participating in the events and activities of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Besides his wife, Violet, he is survived by: four children, John Kusich and his wife Lisa, Hermitage; Christine Austin and her husband David, Jamestown; Bryan Kusich and his wife Susan, Freedom, PA; and Georgann Mittal and her husband Steven, also Hermitage; 11 grandchildren, Bambi, Shawn, Tyler, Samantha, Megan, Melissa, Jordan, Nathaniel, Emiley, Madeleine and Carly; and 3 great-grandchildren, Dante and twins, Marley and Dijana.
He also leaves a brother, Nick Kusich and his wife Nell, Greenville; a sister, Martha "Tootsie" Mariacher and her husband Jack, Colden, NY; and many cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
George was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Olga Tenkewich and Mildred Mrvos.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 65 S. Keel Ridge Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148.
Calling hours will be fro m 4 to 8 p. m. o n Monday, May 16, 20 16, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Funeral service will b e 1 p. m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Hermitage.
Interment: St. John Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honors by the West Middlesex VFW, Wheatland American Legion and Farrell VFW honor guard.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George J. Kusich Jr., please visit our flower store.
Services
Calling Hours
May
16
J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc.
4:00 am - 8:00 pm
Funeral Service
May
17
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
Starts at 1:00 pm
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