Joseph J. Palus Jr.

PALUS - Joseph John Jr., 97; passed away on May 23, 2024.  Born on July 28, 1926 in Johnstown, of Slovak immigrants, Joseph and Anna (Harman) Palus.  Had eight siblings: Helen (Sr. Emmanuel, ASC), Charles, Anne (Burgo), Agnes (Berger), Mary (Corona), Daniel, Dr. Bernard, John; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him very much and have wonderful memories of car rides and fishing trips.  Survived by sister, Mary Corona. He grew up in Old Conemaugh Boro; played baseball and football on the Daisytown ball fields and climbed Devil’s Rock.  Educated in Catholic Schools, up through St. Francis College, Burlington, WI, as a temporarily professed friar.  Drafted for the Korean War, but served with the 43rd Infantry Division in Germany as company armorer (weapons expert).  On discharge he worked for Packard Motor Co., Detroit, MI.  Then worked for 30 years for the PA Department of Revenue as a traveling sales and use tax auditor, much of the time in Philadelphia and out of state locations.  On retirement he earned master’s degree in Russian Literature from Pitt University in Pittsburgh.  Also, had a life-long interest in music, especially Slovak folk songs, plus intense love of symphonic music and opera.  Played the clarinet and flute with passable skill. He also had a passionate love of fly-fishing, practiced in streams over a good part of the eastern United States, Canada and Alaska.  In later life, he devoted much time to translating from Slovak, including Illustrated Slovak History, Bolchazy Publishers, and about a thousand pages of prose and poetry from the whole span of literary Slovak.  He traveled to Slovakia on three occasions; in 1989 attended two-week translators’ seminar in Bratislava and Prague. Active member of many clubs and associations, including Am-Slo Social Club, KMP (Polish Youth Circle), Slovak Heritage Society, VFW, American Legion, Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited and Southern Poverty Law Center.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements by the Francis G. Ozog Funeral Home Inc., Broad Street.  Memorial donations may be made, in his honor, at the St. Jude Infant Hospital or to the Covenant House.

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