Joseph C. Recupero, 83, of Kittanning passed away on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, in ACMH Hospital surrounded by his family.  Joe was born Dec. 23, 1933, in Furnace Run to the late John and Tillie (Gumney) Recupero.  Mr. Recupero was a member of Local Teamsters #538 as a truck driver and he also was an owner operator of his own tractor trailer.  He was also a devout Catholic who attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and was a member of St. Mary Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church in Kittanning. His special saint was St. Therese of Lisieux Little Flower.  Joe was a member of the Kittanning Eagles, American Legion 325 Roy Frick Booher in Cowansville, and the Hilltop Beagle Club.  Mr. Recupero enjoyed singing and entertaining the people of Furnace Run on their porch from the time he was a small child until his advanced years. Joe had a nickname for everyone he met and was also considered by many a gifted story teller. He liked NASCAR races, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pirates. Joe enjoyed going to camp as well as hunting and fishing. He enjoyed cooking and making homemade spaghetti and meatballs every Sunday. Joe also had a love of Ford cars. As a teenager he worked at the family owned Tony’s Service Station located on the West side of the Kittanning Bridge, where he would challenge anyone to a hotrod race up the Indiana Pike with his 1949 Ford. He enjoyed his pet cat “Cricket.” He volunteered to cut the grass at the Kittanning Little League fields. Anyone who knew Joe knew that he was a staunch Democrat and loved talking politics. Most of all he loved his family. He enjoyed attending the events of his grandchildren such as basketball and baseball games, and moto cross races.  He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 59 years, Libby (Booher) Recupero; daughter, Nicalena (Victor) Carlesi of Kittanning; son, Joseph C. Jr. (Fran) Recupero of Kittanning; daughter, Jolene (Thomas) McIlwain of Kittanning; eight grandchildren, Antina Carlesi, Melina Carlesi and fiancé Abdallah Naddaf, Cea Carlesi, Victor Carlesi, David DeVivo, Joseph C. Recupero III, Sofya Recupero, and Liam McIlwain; four sisters, Martha (Recupero) McMasters, Josephine (Recupero) Kline, Genevieve (Recupero) Fox, and Alice (Recupero) Marshall; one brother, Angelo Recupero; two sisters-in-law, Margaret (Booher) Recupero and Patricia ( Moser) Recupero; numerous nieces and nephews; and his four cousins in Italy, Giovanna Recupero, Fabio Recupero, Massimo Recupero, and Roberto Tieghi.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brother and sister-in-law, Anthony and Betty Recupero; sister, Stella Recupero; three brothers, Frank Recupero, John Recupero, and Vincent Recupero; and four brothers-in-law, John McMasters, Lt. Governor Ernie Kline, Cliff Marshall, and Fred Fox.  Joe’s family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude towards all of his caretakers the last 10 years.  Family and friends will be received from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, in the Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home, 200 S. McKean St., Kittanning. Parting prayers will be held in the funeral home on Monday, Aug. 7, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church, 101 High St. in Kittanning with the Rev. Douglas E. Dorula officiating. Burial will follow in Lawn Haven Burial Estates, Worthington.

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