Joseph M. Podczaski, 83, of Wilkes-Barre, Jenkins Township, passed away on Wednesday April 11, 2012 after an illness at the Dept. of Veteran Affairs Medical Center Hospice Unit in Plains Twp.

Born in Plains, he was the son of the late Michael and Apolonia (Pearl) Loch Podczaski.

He was a 1946 graduate of Plains High School  and was a U.S. Army Combat Veteran of the Korean War.

Joseph formally worked as a quality control inspector for various aerospace contractors one of which was located in Willow Grove, Pa.

He was a member of the Plains American Legion Post 558. An avid sports fan, his favorite baseball team was the New York Yankees. He collected Classic movies and especially liked Classic Westerns and War movies. Joseph liked working outdoors, going to car and gun shows, and enjoyed picking mushrooms.
  
Joseph was preceded in death by his brothers Frank A. Podczaski and an infant brother. and sisters: Genevieve Grubbs and Clara Combs.

Surviving are his nieces : Catherine Ann Podczaski-Suraci and her husband Frank Suraci, Exeter; Patricia Grubbs-Griner, Patterson, Georgia; Sandra Pearl Combs-Meadows, Destin, Florida,and a nephew, Michael Grubbs, Norwood, Pa. Also surviving is a brother  Edmund B. ( Chickie) Podczaski, Kingston, Pa. along with nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on  Monday April 16, 2012 at 9:30a.m. from the Gubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter followed by  a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 116 Hughes St.,Swoyersville with the Rev. Joseph Pisaneschi, pastor, officiating.
Interment will be in St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, Plains.

Friends may call on Sunday from 5:00-8:00pm at the funeral home.
To send the family an expression of sympathy or an online condolence please visit www.gubbiottifh.com