Joseph P. Mravunich (Toey), 85, of Clymer, passed away on August 15 in his home, surrounded by family. Having been known as a great storyteller, it is our honor to share his…

Born May 30, 1931 in Sample Run to mother, Ethel, and father, Joseph Mravunich. Joe came from a large family and was one of twelve. After graduating from Clymer High School, he moved to Pittsburgh and was employed as a baker, which fueled his passion for cooking and baking. During this time he enlisted with the US Army and served in the North Korean conflict with “The Big Red One”. After serving his country, he married the love of his life (Nancy Lee Scott) and moved to Detroit.

While living there, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to form L & M Landscaping. He co-established the first Marathon service station on Warren Road in Detroit across from the first mall built in America, was also employed by the first Little Caesar’s Pizza restaurant as a baker and pizza delivery man. During this same time, he worked for Ford Motor Company as a Road Tester.

Due to race riots in Detroit, Nancy insisted that they move to be with their family back in the coal mining town of Clymer. This led him to purchase the C & S Restaurant/Bar. Later he established the first Quick Service Delicatessen, “The Little Deli”, in which he showcased his renowned smoked Kielbasa. As Joe was very ambitious, he also sought to work as a rural carrier for the US Postal Service in Clymer. He later relocated to the Indiana Post office where he worked for 25 years, eventually retiring in 1992.

One of Joe’s great passions was his love for life. He was a true woodsman who could often be found picking mushrooms or in search of a sheepshead, sighting his gun for the next season, or trapping the local mink or muskrat.

Fishing was at the top of his list. There were many trips and stories to tell, like fishing Lake Michigan with brother, Ed (Boots) or chartering a boat and fishing Lake Erie with son-in-law Rex. He could also be found fishing the brooks and streams for trout with long-time friend Red Rumgay. He more cherished trips were to the Gulf of Mexico to a little town in Texas, called Freeport, where he often fished with his son, Mark…and then there was always a story about the one that got away.

He was also a great garden enthusiast who was known for having a green thumb. He grew prize-winning tomatoes and canned seasonally, anticipating his homemade spaghetti sauce. He grew herbs and peppers that caught the eye. He also grew grapes which eventually sparked him to make his flavorful homemade wine and be among the first to introduce winemaking supplies to our area.

Toey truly enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love of the art of gardening, but he especially enjoyed sharing and encouraging his son-in-law Grant. Together they hoed, tilled, and planted, yielding a beautiful bounty each season. He also dabbled in Flora and Fauna to produce commercial groundcover and holiday garland.

Joe was a true chef who inspired. He taught us the secret to making perfect Paguch, tender Halupki and soft, pillowy Peroghi. He was full of tradition that he passed on, while heatedly and repeatedly reminding us of its value.

He was a lifelong enthusiast of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins and an advocate for the Penns Manor Comets. In his early years he played softball on the Clymer league. He could often be found whipping up a batch of Halushki to take to the Clymer Slovak Club to share and watch the big game.

Toey served on the board of the Clymer Slovak Club, was a member of the Glen Campbell Legion and the Dixonville Moose. He was a lover of life, always having a story to tell or to mark an event. He was fun-loving with numerous friends from around the world.

He was a proud and loving husband, father, Grand and Great-Grandfather.

He was a longtime member of the church of the Resurrection and served as an usher for many years.

He is survived by his son Mark (Ginny) Mravunich, daughters Lee Ann (Frank) Mravunich, Michele (Rex) Richards, Marisa (Grant) Terry, sister, Mary Rengers and longtime friend Ida Sturgeon. His grandchildren are Ian Richards, of Arizona; Mitch Reynolds, of California; Ryan (Dora) Mravunich of Texas; Nicole (Jessie) Wray, of Pennsylvania; Ciearra Harper, of New York; and Valerie Mravunich, of Texas. His Great-grandchildren are Alaric Richards, of Arizona; Liam Wray, of Pennsylvania; Jada Richards, of Arizona; Novack Richards, of Arizona; and Colin Terry, of New York.

In addition to his wife and parents, Joe was preceded in death by the following siblings: Alec and Steve Hudak; Anne Yarosik; John, Nick, Joe and Edward “Boots” Dobrenick; Ethel and Josephine Mravunich and Joann Knapik.

Friends will be received Saturday, August 20th from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 PM at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home of Clymer. Visitation will also be held Sunday afternoon, August 21st from 1 – 3 PM at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning at eleven o’clock at the Church of the Resurrection, Clymer. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorial Donations may be made to Visiting Nurse’s Association of Indiana County, 850 Hospital Road, Suite 3000, Indiana, PA 15701.

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