Reverend Paul Visoky

     The Reverend Paul Visoky, 88, a resident of Plains Township, formerly of the North End neighborhood of Wilkes-Barre, passed peacefully into eternal life the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2020 while in the care of River Street Manor, where he resided the past few years due to health complications.

     Born January 9, 1932 in Yonkers, New York, he was one of several children to the late John and Ilona (Kmec) Visoky.  Educated in the New York schools, he was a graduate of the Bronxville High School and later furthered his education toward his Lutheran ministry by attending the Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois.

     Following ordination, in 1962 he served as pastor at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Barberton, Ohio and Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany Indiana.  He was later called to Saint Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre where he would serve as the congregation's second pastor.  This pastoral relationship would span some thirty-seven years when he was then conferred with the title Pastor Emeritus in 1999 following his formal retirement from the pulpit.  During and after his ministry to Saint Matthew, Pastor Visoky also served the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township as chaplain for over thirty years.  His vocational involvement included serving on the Lutheran Armed Services Commission in Washington, D.C.  He previously held membership with the Metropolitan Lutheran Council of Wyoming Valley; served as chairman of the Community Action Task Force; was a board member of the Senior Citizens’ Market and Ecumenical Enterprises, Inc.; served on the board of the Cultural Heritage Council of Northeast Pennsylvania; was the finance chairman of the Luzerne County Folk Festival Committee and the Slovak Heritage Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

     He is remembered as being a humble and intellectual man of God; a loving and devoted husband and father and a wonderful shepherd to his congregation.  He will be greatly missed by all those he touched in this life through his counsel, guidance and friendship.

     In his spare time, pastor enjoyed membership in the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club for many years.

     He and his wife, the former Anne Mae Lorenz, celebrated sixty-three years of married life together on July 22 of last year.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.

     Left to cherish the wonderful memories they hold of him in addition to his beloved wife, Anne Mae at home, are the couple's children, Paul John Viosky of Falls and Ruth Anne Visoky at home;  Numerous nieces, nephews, former congregants and dear friends.

     Funeral services for Pastor Visoky will be conducted privately for his immediate family from the North Wilkes-Barre location of the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc., 625 North Main Street.  The Reverend Joshua K. DeYoung, pastor of Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hanover Township, and the Reverend Peter D. Haenftling, pastor of Saint Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Wilkes-Barre, will serve as concelebrants and leaders of worship.

     Interment with the Rite of Committal will be conducted in the family lot, Saint Matthew Lawn section of Fern Knoll Burial Park, Midland Avenue, Dallas.   There will be no formal visitation at this time due to the current health crisis.

     In lieu of floral tributes, Pastor's family would be humbled if those wishing to honor his memory with a monetary donation, kindly give consideration to Saint Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 667 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705; Saint Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1000 South Main Street, Hanover Township, PA 18706 or to the S.P.C.A. of Luzerne County, 525 East Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

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