Joseph Kucsan Iii

Joseph Kucsan III, age 68, passed away April 23, 2013 at home with his family. Burial services were held Monday, April 29, 2013 at 2:30pm.

Joe was born in Bethlehem, PA., December 13, 1944, to Mary and Joseph Kucsan. The third child of five, he, his sisters Marianne, Barbara and Dolly, and his brother Frank grew up in several places, thanks to their father's military career, and included Pennsylvania, Okinawa, and finally Texas. At 3 months of age, he got spinal meningitis which caused a severe fever. The fever caused permanent mental retardation and epilepsy. Several of his doctors felt it was so severe that he would not live past age 7, or be able to learn basic life skills. His mother, a stubborn yet loving Irish mother, set out to prove them wrong. She began teaching him at home, until he reached school age, and then she enrolled him in public school. Once the public school system decided he was more of a distraction than a student, around 4th grade, she began to teach him at home, and by the time he was 18, he was able to do basic math, reading, writing, time and currency. While on Okinawa, he also learned some Japanese words and songs, thanks to a kindly housekeeper that worked for his family. He also taught himself to play the harmonica and the organ, and usually only had to hear it one or two times before he could repeat it. Many nights, he would entertain his nieces and nephews playing "She'll be coming round the Mountain When She Comes" or "On Top of Old Smokey".

Joe outlived both of his parents. After his sister Barb passed away, he then was moved to Casper, Wyoming to live with his younger sister and her family. His days here were spent watching television, and spending time with family playing games, watching movies or sitting out in the yard as they did yard work. Two of the things he loved about living in Casper were the snow and the beautiful mountain view.

Three weeks before he passed away, he was rushed to the ER, because of serious problems, which were the result of undiagnosed diabetes. He spent 2 weeks in the hospital, trying to recover, and once home, seemed as though he was getting better, but passed unexpectedly early Tuesday morning.
All in all, he was an ornery old cuss who loved to be the center of attention and while he led a simple life, he leaves behind a big hole in our hearts. He was a unique gift from the Father, and we were blessed to have been able to have him with us for 68 years.

Sleep well Uncle Joe. We love you and miss you dearly, and cannot wait until the day when we get to see you again, no glasses, no walker, no insulin, no seizure pills, no mental retardation, and most of all no more pain. Just a perfect body belonging to a perfect brother/uncle/son. Oh what a joyous reunion that day will be!