Carl Joseph Kochik, 87, Indiana, died Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Communities at Indian Haven.

The son of Steve and Mary (Kachik) Kochik, he was born June 4, 1929 in Clarence, PA.

Carl attended the Western PA School for the Blind in Pittsburgh where he met and fell in love with his wife to be, Mildred Marie Dickey whom he later wed April 7, 1951.

Although blind since the age of 14, he was determined to lead a productive life.

Carl and his wife founded the Kochik  Telephone  Answering Service and owned and operated that business from 1963 until 1987. From 1972 to 1983 they had owned and operated the family farm in the Shelocta area. Carl had also been employed by the Indiana Co. Blind Association.  Earlier in life, he loomed carpets, assembled corn brooms, re-finished furniture, caned chairs (both small and large reed), and raised rabbits. He continued caning chairs as one of his hobbies long after retiring from the Telephone Answering Service. He was a perfectionist at such.

He was a member of the St. Bernard Church and the F.I.S.H. Organization.

His family has many wonderful memories of how dad could recall and give directions throughout Indiana Co. and his home town of Clarence, PA and prepare tasty meals. He loved music, esp. polkas, and enjoyed gardening, swimming, listening to birds, collecting clocks and instilled the love of collecting clocks to his daughters. Carl was also quite the whistler. He met his second love, Anna Belle, at the YMCA and they later wed June 10, 1995. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandpa and great grandfather.

Surviving is his wife, Anna Belle (Fyock) Kochik; children, Carla (Thomas) Brewer, Five Points, Timothy Kochik, Indiana, Carl Joseph “Joe”(Kim) Kochik Jr., and Lucy (Greg) Rosborough, all of Shelocta; grandchildren, Toby J., Zachary J., Rhiannon and Caleb; great grandchildren, Kaytlyn, Owen, Makenzie, and Rori; step-children, Deborah (Edward) Knapic, Northern Cambria, James (Yolande) McCloskey, Homer City, Bonnie (Keith) Malloy, Vintondale, Melvin McCloskey, Vintondale, SueAnn (Michael) Mundwiler, Gallitzin; 16 step grandchildren; 19 great step-grandchildren; step daughter-in-law, Barb McCloskey, St. Geneva,         MO.

Preceding Carl in death were his parents; first wife, Mildred; seven brothers, Albert, George, Emro, Ed, Ralph David and an infant brother; and two sisters, Matilda “Tilly” Simmers and Genevieve “Jenny” Bucha; step great granddaughter, Hanna Rose Lewis; step son, Richard McCloskey; and step grandson, Joshua McCloskey

Funeral arrangements will be private with a graveside service to be conducted at a later date.

The John A. Lefdahl Funeral Home are entrusted with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, 201 N. Bellefield Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

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