joseph kostecki

Joseph J. Kostecki, Sr., 97, of Weirton, passed away peacefully at his home on August 7, 2024.

Born in Steubenville, Ohio, on July 19, 1927, Joe was one of eight children born to Julius and Helen (Habowski) Kostecki.

A devout man of faith, Joe lived a life that exemplified the love and grace of his Father God. He was a dedicated and loving family man who took immense pride in his family, always ensuring their needs were met. His steadfast dedication was evident in his 38 years of service at Weirton Steel, where he worked as a feeder in the tin mill.

On September 1, 1956, Joe married the love of his life, Agnes Tluchowski. Together, they built a strong and loving family, blessed with four daughters and three sons. Joe’s legacy also continues through his 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A veteran of the United States Army, Joe was very proud of his Polish heritage and was active in his community and church. He was a parishioner at the former Saint Stanislaus Church in Steubenville, OH, and later at Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Weirton. His faith was a cornerstone of his life. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, Sacred Heart of Mary Choir, Polish National Alliance (PNA) and the Weirton Steel 25 Year Club. He exercised daily at the Weirton Millsop Community Center.

He was a man who lived life on his terms, often reminding others to “Worry about yourself and Joe will take care of Joe.” His independence and strength of character were hallmarks of his personality.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by all of his siblings, Edward and John Kostecki, Bernice Clancy, Mary Drosak, Reginia Talamine, Vera Francis and Theresa Kasko.

His memory will forever be cherished by his wife, Agnes, his three sons, Julius, Anthony (Linda) and Joseph J. Kostecki, Jr.; his four daughters, Cathy (Rick) Cowell, Judith (Kurt) Yochum, Mary (Paul) Miller, and Paula (Steve) Brown; his grandchildren, Michael, Jessica, Eric, Leah, Tori, Jocelyn, Angela, Doug, Jackie, Karissa, Julia, Jamie, Joseph and Sammy Jo. He was also a Dzia-Dzia to his 14 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be 2-8 PM on Sunday at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home 3219 Main Street Weirton, WV.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 AM on Monday at the Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, Weirton.

Rev. Dennis R. Schuelkens, Jr. will preside.

He will be laid to rest at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Steubenville, OH. Military Honors will be conducted at the cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 200 Preston Avenue Weirton, WV 26062

Share tributes and memories at www.grecohertnick.com

https://v2.forever.link/j/72205

Broadcast Date:

Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home and Cremation Service - Weirton WV Broadcast

Services

Visitation: August 11, 2024 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home
3219 Main Street
Weirton, WV 26062

(304) 748-3219
https://www.grecohertnick.com

Mass of Christian Burial: August 12, 2024 10:00 am

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
200 Preston Avenue
Weirton, WV 26062


An image showing the branch of service for Army Veteran

Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Joseph J. Kostecki 's name.

Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church

200 Preston Avenue

Weirton,

WV

26062

304 723 7175

www.sacredheartweirton.org

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. Candle Selection 8Dear Cathy and families, Your dad certainly left a legacy! I’ll be praying for all of you hoping happy memories overshadow sad ones. God bless you and your families.
    Love, Cathy & Jack Arango

  2. Dear Mary, Paul, Joseph and Megan, our deepest sympathies to you and the family. May God give you peace, comfort and strength and the confidence that his legacy is amazing!
    Ed and Linda Dovey

  3. Candle Selection 7Thoughts and prayers for healing for the extended Kostecki family. While Joe was building the new house in Weirton; I would check in on him, after my paper route. Usually just for someone to talk with or relaying messages to Aunt Aggie. There was no phone in the house then. Uncle Joe gave me good advice and kept my hands busy.

  4. Anthony, Mary and families, I so sorry for your loss. May her RIP ✝️🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻

  5. Candle Selection 7Sending love and prayers to all. Uncle Joe was a wonderful uncle and he will be missed dearly. Will cherish the memories.

  6. Dear aunt agnes, praying for you and the whole family. Big Joe, my godfather, will be greatly missed. Love and peace to all. Joe & Mar Drosak

  7. Candle Selection 8So sorry for your loss. Your family is in our prayers. He was a very special uncle and brother to our mom, Vera. Love Dennis and Trish Van Der Sluis

  8. Candle Selection 6There is a white votive candle that sits below a hand-carved thirty-two-inch Crucifix here in my home in Florida. This work of religious art was crafted in Italy. It is connected to Joseph & Agnes Kostecki. When my parents, Stanley & Mary Jane, decided in 1965, that our family would build a new home in Weirton, leaving the Polish Hill of Steubenville, Joe & Agnes ordered a Crucifix to be a housewarming gift. We all knew about this; however, the Crucifix did not arrive stateside until 1967. I recall when the entire Kostecki family came from Steubenville to gift our family with this beautiful work of art. I am privileged to be the keeper of this Crucifix that hung in our 229 family home from 1967 until 2007, where it was time to sell after our parents died. Joseph Kostecki and my father were childhood pals. My dad was actually six years older. Joe knew my father long before he became acquainted with my dad’s first cousin Agnes Tluchowski. The father of Agnes and the mother of my father were brother and sister. Their name was Tluchowski and my father’s father was a Tuchalski. Our families and name spellings often get confused.
    My father donated his body to science and years after his death, when his cremains were returned for entombment, we held a wake at Greco’s. Joe began to tell me a story about his childhood buddy. He said, “Stas’, your dad would come to my house and say: Joe, let’s go down to the PNA. We would go and sit on the sidewalk with our backs against the PNA wall facing the Black Baptist Church. It was summer and the Church windows would be fully opened in hopes of catching a breeze. Your father just loved listing to the Gospel Singing. We would sit through the whole service and your father would get so excited whenever they would sing “I’ll Fly Away.” That was his favorite.” In fact, before he died, our dad asked that this very song be sung at his Memorial Mass. The choir at SHM honored his request.
    Joseph & Agnes and Mary Jane & Stanley were not only relatives but very close friends. I shall never forget any of them because I have that imposing thirty-two-inch Crucifix in a prominent place here. To live into one’s nineties is to have lived a full life, and this is what God graced upon Joe. Yet I will mourn his absence. I extend my prayers of faith to my Kostecki cousins as they mover through their necessary grieving. I support them with love. And to Aunt Agnes, I wish you contentment until God calls you too, to fly away.

  9. Mrs. Kostecki & children,
    So sorry to hear of your husband’s passing.
    Deepest sympathy,
    John Saggio, St. Stanislaus Class of 1968


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