Joseph M. Setlock of Indiana, PA and former owner of the popular Corner Dairy, died on Tuesday, June 17, after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Joe was born on March 19, 1925 in Fulton Run, PA. Son of Fred and Mary Solti of Chicago, he was orphaned at an early age, and raised by relatives, first in Ebensburg and then in Indiana, where he attended St. Bernard’s Catholic School and Indiana High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and served in the Pacific. Though not a combat soldier, his stories of building runways on the Pacific islands and the hardships aboard ship were riveting.

Joe was a graduate of the American Institute of Baking in Chicago, and worked as a baker there before returning to Indiana, where he worked at Greiner’s Bakery. He was recalled to active duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. Joe returned to Indiana and began a career as a businessman, opening Joseph’s Men Shop on Philadelphia Street, then Setlock Ford Sales in Homer City before finding his calling as the owner and operator of the Corner at Fourth and Philadelphia Streets. Many of you will remember his very popular submarine and hoagie sandwiches, his ham loaf, his vegetable soup and spaghetti sauce, his fried fish served only on Friday, and during the summer months, the long line of patrons waiting patiently for a Sealtest ice cream cone. For a time Joe and his wife Marie also owned and operated Owens Market and the Corner Dairy at Leninger Hall on the campus of IUP.

Joe married his sweetheart, Marie Virginia Secosky of Ernest in 1947, and raised three sons, Joseph James (Jim), Randall (Randy) and Kenneth (Kenny) who all attended St. Bernard’s Parochial School and Indiana High.

Joe was a member of the American Legion Post 141, Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, served as an usher at St. Bernard’s for over 50 years and along with his wife Marie, supported many church affiliations including the Catholic Youth Organization. At the request and under the guidance of Father Lawrence R. Kiniry, Joe spent many long days and months supervising St. Bernard’s youth, members of the church and other volunteers in building the CYO lodge, which still stands today.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Marie, his eldest son, Jim, his loyal and loving brother John Delpra of Cleveland OH, and his sisters, Lucy, Sue, and Tressie.

Surviving him are his sons Randy Setlock of Mendocino, CA, and Kenny Setlock of Indiana, and their wives, Sandy Schmidt and Tammy Setlock, his daughter-in-law Ginger Setlock of The Villages FL, his beloved grandchildren Christopher Setlock and his wife Leslie of Ithaca NY, Jennifer Steele and her husband Eric of Indiana, Benjamin Setlock of Nashville TN, Megan Setlock of Richmond, VA and Amber Setlock of Baltimore MD; and his great grandchildren Aidan, Lila and Sylvia Setlock of Ithaca NY, and Ian and Hannah Steele of Indiana.

His unwavering love for his family, his smile, his never-changing positive attitude even during adversity, and the generosity he showed to his family, his many acquaintances and friends, graduates and faculty at IUP, and those just passing through Indiana, will be fondly remembered.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph M. Setlock, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.