Joseph D. Kovalick Sr.

       Mr. Joseph D. Kovalick Sr., 75 a recent resident of East Mountain Apartments; formerly of North Wilkes-Barre and Kingston, passed peacefully into Eternal Life early Tuesday morning; the Feast of All Saints Day in Birchwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Nanticoke; following a recent and brief illness.

     Born on Wednesday, September 10, 1947 in Wilkes-Barre, he was one of three children and the only son to the late Joseph and Mary M. (Modla) Kovalick.

     Educated in the city schools, Joe was a member of the 1965 graduating class of the former James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre.

     Following his graduation, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps and proudly served our country during the Viet Nam Conflict; earning the rank of Sergeant at the time of his Honorable Discharge from military duties on June 9,1971.

     Once he returned home to the Wyoming Valley, Joe then furthered his education by graduating from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre in 1979.

     He had been employed for many years as a corrections officer with the State Correctional Institute at Dallas. While at S.C.I. Dallas, he garnered a number of friends as co-workers; the moniker “KILO”; and earned the respect of several of the inmates for his fair treatment. He was also a member of the Correctional Emergency Response Team or CERT; a group of highly-trained corrections officers tasked with responding to incidents; riots, cell extractions, mass searches, disturbances in the prison, possibly involving uncooperative or violent inmates.

     Joe had a soft side to those who knew him best. Above all else his is remembered as being a loving and supportive father and a friend whose presence will be greatly missed.

     In his spare time, he was a member of the American Legion, Wilkes-Barre Township Post #815.

     His father passed when Joe was only 17 years old in 1964; his mother would later pass on February 1, 2005. Most recently, the family bid farewell to his grand dog “Guiness” in 2015.

     Left to cherish his memory are his son, Joseph D. “Jody” Kovalick Jr.; daughter-in-law Stacy Reynolds, and grand-doggo “Ripley” of Mount Vernon, N.Y.; Sisters, Mary Ann McAndrew and her husband Gerald of Washington Crossing, PA and Johanna O’Brien and her husband Frank of Tabernacle, N.J.; Several nephews and his favorite niece; former co-workers, dear friends, and Marine Corps Brothers.

     Per his previous request, funeral services for Joe will be held privately and at the convenience of his family with no formal visitation.

     Future inurnment will be in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Washington Crossing, PA.

     Jody would like to thank all those who gave comfort to Joe in his final hours.

     The John V. Morris Family Funeral Home, 625 North Main Street Wilkes-Barre is honored to care for our friend Joe and his family at this time.

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