Joseph A. "King Joe" Amendolaro, 94, Elmhurst Twp., died Friday morning in Hospice of the Sacred Heart. He and his wife, the former Annette "Toots" Scartelli were married for 61 years.
Born in Dunmore, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Mamie Telesca Amendolaro and was a member of St. Eulalia Church in Elmhurst Twp.
Joe Attended Dunmore public schools and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 while stationed in Alaska. He owned and operated, with his wife, King Joe's Variety Store in Dunmore for 40 years. He also worked at Gold Medal Baking for 10 years.
King Joe was an Olympic weightlifter having represented the United States at the World Championships and won a world championship while lifting in Mattersburg, Austria. He has three U.S. records in weightlifting and one U.S. record in powerlifting. He became very good friends with Bob Hoffman, the father of weightlifting, as he coached Joe during competitions.
Joe also represented the U.S. in a 52 mile cross country ski race in Mora, Sweden where he skied a continuous 52 miles in under nine hours from the town of Salen to the town of Mora. It is there he found the magical health benefits of blueberries as he was served hot "blueberry soup" made with honey and spring water. That led him to planting an extensive blueberry farm upon returning to the states which many family and friends enjoy to this very day.
He was a weightlifting coach for the Dunmore Bucks Football Team for over 25 years while working alongside Coach Henzes, his dedication to the strength and health of Dunmore's youth was incredible.
Also surviving are two sons, Joseph A., Easton and Anthony "Tony", Elmhurst Twp., two grandsons, Dino and Pasquale, a brother Vito, Dunmore and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine "Kay" Woehrle and Grace Bartos and two brothers, Patsy and James.
Born in Dunmore, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Mamie Telesca Amendolaro and was a member of St. Eulalia Church in Elmhurst Twp.
Joe Attended Dunmore public schools and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 while stationed in Alaska. He owned and operated, with his wife, King Joe's Variety Store in Dunmore for 40 years. He also worked at Gold Medal Baking for 10 years.
King Joe was an Olympic weightlifter having represented the United States at the World Championships and won a world championship while lifting in Mattersburg, Austria. He has three U.S. records in weightlifting and one U.S. record in powerlifting. He became very good friends with Bob Hoffman, the father of weightlifting, as he coached Joe during competitions.
Joe also represented the U.S. in a 52 mile cross country ski race in Mora, Sweden where he skied a continuous 52 miles in under nine hours from the town of Salen to the town of Mora. It is there he found the magical health benefits of blueberries as he was served hot "blueberry soup" made with honey and spring water. That led him to planting an extensive blueberry farm upon returning to the states which many family and friends enjoy to this very day.
He was a weightlifting coach for the Dunmore Bucks Football Team for over 25 years while working alongside Coach Henzes, his dedication to the strength and health of Dunmore's youth was incredible.
Also surviving are two sons, Joseph A., Easton and Anthony "Tony", Elmhurst Twp., two grandsons, Dino and Pasquale, a brother Vito, Dunmore and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine "Kay" Woehrle and Grace Bartos and two brothers, Patsy and James.
Joseph A. "King Joe" Amendolaro, 94, Elmhurst Twp., died Friday morning in Hospice of the Sacred Heart. He and his wife, the former Annette "Toots" Scartelli were married for 61 years.
Born in Dunmore, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Mamie Telesca Amendolaro and was a member of St. Eulalia Church in Elmhurst Twp.
Joe Attended Dunmore public schools and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 while stationed in Alaska. He owned and operated, with his wife, King Joe's Variety Store in Dunmore for 40 years. He also worked at Gold Medal Baking for 10 years.
King Joe was an Olympic weightlifter having represented the United States at the World Championships and won a world championship while lifting in Mattersburg, Austria. He has three U.S. records in weightlifting and one U.S. record in powerlifting. He became very good friends with Bob Hoffman, the father of weightlifting, as he coached Joe during competitions.
Joe also represented the U.S. in a 52 mile cross country ski race in Mora, Sweden where he skied a continuous 52 miles in under nine hours from the town of Salen to the town of Mora. It is there he found the magical health benefits of blueberries as he was served hot "blueberry soup" made with honey and spring water. That led him to planting an extensive blueberry farm upon returning to the states which many family and friends enjoy to this very day.
He was a weightlifting coach for the Dunmore Bucks Football Team for over 25 years while working alongside Coach Henzes, his dedication to the strength and health of Dunmore's youth was incredible.
Also surviving are two sons, Joseph A., Easton and Anthony "Tony", Elmhurst Twp., two grandsons, Dino and Pasquale, a brother Vito, Dunmore and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine "Kay" Woehrle and Grace Bartos and two brothers, Patsy and James.
Born in Dunmore, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Mamie Telesca Amendolaro and was a member of St. Eulalia Church in Elmhurst Twp.
Joe Attended Dunmore public schools and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 while stationed in Alaska. He owned and operated, with his wife, King Joe's Variety Store in Dunmore for 40 years. He also worked at Gold Medal Baking for 10 years.
King Joe was an Olympic weightlifter having represented the United States at the World Championships and won a world championship while lifting in Mattersburg, Austria. He has three U.S. records in weightlifting and one U.S. record in powerlifting. He became very good friends with Bob Hoffman, the father of weightlifting, as he coached Joe during competitions.
Joe also represented the U.S. in a 52 mile cross country ski race in Mora, Sweden where he skied a continuous 52 miles in under nine hours from the town of Salen to the town of Mora. It is there he found the magical health benefits of blueberries as he was served hot "blueberry soup" made with honey and spring water. That led him to planting an extensive blueberry farm upon returning to the states which many family and friends enjoy to this very day.
He was a weightlifting coach for the Dunmore Bucks Football Team for over 25 years while working alongside Coach Henzes, his dedication to the strength and health of Dunmore's youth was incredible.
Also surviving are two sons, Joseph A., Easton and Anthony "Tony", Elmhurst Twp., two grandsons, Dino and Pasquale, a brother Vito, Dunmore and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine "Kay" Woehrle and Grace Bartos and two brothers, Patsy and James.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
