Joseph David ‘Papa Joe’ Pastorkovich – Belle Vernon

Joseph David “Papa Joe” Pastorkovich, 86, of Belle Vernon, died Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Jefferson Medical Center. Born in Monessen on Nov. 22, 1933, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary Matko Pastorkovich. He retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Co., Allenport plant. Joe served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was a graduate of Monessen High School, where he excelled at basketball, being the lead scorer in the Mon Valley and the co-outstanding player in the WPIAL during the 1951 season. He was a member of Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 194, where he served as sports director, raising thousands of dollars for the CFU Basketball Program. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Stephen. He is survived by his wife, Ermina Manzini Pastorkovich; two sons and a daughter-in-law, David and Linda Pastorkovich of Greentree and Joseph Pastorkovich of Wexford; a daughter, Diane Pastorkovich of Zelienople; two grandchildren, Alex and joHanna Pastorkovich; and a brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Carol Pastorkovich of New Stanton. Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at ROBERT A. BILLICK FUNERAL HOME, Grand Boulevard and Marion Avenue, Monessen, www.billicksfuneralhome.com. A blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 17, in the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral Mass in St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the CFU Scholarship Fund, 100 Delany Dr., Pittsburgh PA., 15235.