Joseph A. Poshefko age 97, of Natick died Monday, July 8, 2013 at his home.
He was the beloved husband of the late Mary A. (Radocha) Poshefko who died in 2001.
A coal cracker from Pennsylvania. Born on August 28, 1915 he was one of ten siblings of a coal miner named John Poshefko. He grew up as a HUNKY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunky_Culture) until his mom Mary moved the family to Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. He worked as raw laborer building road in the mountains in the mining regions. He then joined the depression era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was then selected to join the Army Air corps and was stationed at Langley in the 30's. His grand adventure started when he was recruited to join Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company. After receiving an honorable discharge for the Army Air Corps he was sent to San Francisco to become one of the first members of the famous AVG Flying Tigers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers). After completing his contract he stayed in China to help transition the 14th Air Force into service. After returning home he joined GM Corporation and started building Wildcat airplanes in Linden NJ. He married Mary Radocha. After the war ended he was sent to Framingham MA to set up the GM factory in 1948. He built a house in Natick and has lived there till today. After 32 year at GM he retired in 1974. He then became the first civil defense director for Natick. Over the years he stayed involved in the Natick community. His last four years volunteering in the Natick high school.
He was a walking, talking history lesson. He knew personally every famous Aviation persona from Charles Limburg through Neil Armstrong. He knew the rich and famous yet was always comfortable just being JOE POKO. Joe Poshefko is one of four known surviving Flying Tigers, and was awarded a Bronze Star, a Presidential Unit Citation and a host of Chinese military service medals. He will live on in history from China and the USA. He was more than an average JOE he was a kind and gentle man.
He is survived by one daughter Jo-Ann Connors of Tallahassee FL, one son Robert P. Poshefko and his wife Pamela of Hopkinton, three grandsons Michael and his wife Heather, Caelan and Channing Connors, one brother William P. Poshefko of NJ, three sisters, Helen P. Poshefko, Agnes P. Poshefko both of NJ, Rose Kosch of PA, and many nieces.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral on Saturday, July 13 at 9:00 from the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St Patrick’s Church at 10:00 A.M.
Visiting Hours are Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Burial with Military Honors will take place on Monday, July 15, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Mary Ann Morse Nursing Home Patient Activities Fund, 45 Union Street Natick, MA 01760