Born in Domany, Hungary, Joseph Hancharik was a son of the late George and Anna (Tkach) Hancharik. He immigrated to the United States on July 15, 1913 through the Port of Philadelphia on "The Graff Waldersee" which sailed from Hamburg, Germany.
Joe had been a tin miner in the "Old World" and eventually signed on with US Steel, National Tube Co.in McKeesport, PA. after he moved from Yukon, Pa. and the coal mining atmosphere. He retired with over 35 years of service with US Steel as a shipping clerk.
He married Mary Babinec of Versailles Borough on August 12, 1916. They resided in various locations in Versailles and Boston, Pa. while they raised their two sons and a daughter. They finally built a new retirement
home in 1957 in Versailles. He and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here on August 12, 1966.
Joe loved to garden and he and his wife canned everything from tomatoes to peaches which he stored in the fruit cellar that he had designed as part of his basement. He retained his old gas stove from his old house and cooked huge meals in the basement while keeping their upstairs kitchen cool for after church family gatherings.
He was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. Joe never owned an automobile nor had a drivers license, but rarely missed mass. They were situated on the bus line and during inclement weather they had one of their sons or daughter drive them to the church. The nuclear family all lived within a one and a half mile radius of his home.
Joe was an honorary member of the Versailles Borough Volunteer Fire Co. and put in many hours as a trustee keeping the fireman's rec room clean, helping out with the annual street fairs, and cooking hot dogs and sauerkraut in the upstairs bingo hall every week.
He led a full life and stayed mentally alert up until the time of his death from colon cancer in 1980.
Joe had been a tin miner in the "Old World" and eventually signed on with US Steel, National Tube Co.in McKeesport, PA. after he moved from Yukon, Pa. and the coal mining atmosphere. He retired with over 35 years of service with US Steel as a shipping clerk.
He married Mary Babinec of Versailles Borough on August 12, 1916. They resided in various locations in Versailles and Boston, Pa. while they raised their two sons and a daughter. They finally built a new retirement
home in 1957 in Versailles. He and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here on August 12, 1966.
Joe loved to garden and he and his wife canned everything from tomatoes to peaches which he stored in the fruit cellar that he had designed as part of his basement. He retained his old gas stove from his old house and cooked huge meals in the basement while keeping their upstairs kitchen cool for after church family gatherings.
He was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. Joe never owned an automobile nor had a drivers license, but rarely missed mass. They were situated on the bus line and during inclement weather they had one of their sons or daughter drive them to the church. The nuclear family all lived within a one and a half mile radius of his home.
Joe was an honorary member of the Versailles Borough Volunteer Fire Co. and put in many hours as a trustee keeping the fireman's rec room clean, helping out with the annual street fairs, and cooking hot dogs and sauerkraut in the upstairs bingo hall every week.
He led a full life and stayed mentally alert up until the time of his death from colon cancer in 1980.
Born in Domany, Hungary, Joseph Hancharik was a son of the late George and Anna (Tkach) Hancharik. He immigrated to the United States on July 15, 1913 through the Port of Philadelphia on "The Graff Waldersee" which sailed from Hamburg, Germany.
Joe had been a tin miner in the "Old World" and eventually signed on with US Steel, National Tube Co.in McKeesport, PA. after he moved from Yukon, Pa. and the coal mining atmosphere. He retired with over 35 years of service with US Steel as a shipping clerk.
He married Mary Babinec of Versailles Borough on August 12, 1916. They resided in various locations in Versailles and Boston, Pa. while they raised their two sons and a daughter. They finally built a new retirement
home in 1957 in Versailles. He and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here on August 12, 1966.
Joe loved to garden and he and his wife canned everything from tomatoes to peaches which he stored in the fruit cellar that he had designed as part of his basement. He retained his old gas stove from his old house and cooked huge meals in the basement while keeping their upstairs kitchen cool for after church family gatherings.
He was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. Joe never owned an automobile nor had a drivers license, but rarely missed mass. They were situated on the bus line and during inclement weather they had one of their sons or daughter drive them to the church. The nuclear family all lived within a one and a half mile radius of his home.
Joe was an honorary member of the Versailles Borough Volunteer Fire Co. and put in many hours as a trustee keeping the fireman's rec room clean, helping out with the annual street fairs, and cooking hot dogs and sauerkraut in the upstairs bingo hall every week.
He led a full life and stayed mentally alert up until the time of his death from colon cancer in 1980.
Joe had been a tin miner in the "Old World" and eventually signed on with US Steel, National Tube Co.in McKeesport, PA. after he moved from Yukon, Pa. and the coal mining atmosphere. He retired with over 35 years of service with US Steel as a shipping clerk.
He married Mary Babinec of Versailles Borough on August 12, 1916. They resided in various locations in Versailles and Boston, Pa. while they raised their two sons and a daughter. They finally built a new retirement
home in 1957 in Versailles. He and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here on August 12, 1966.
Joe loved to garden and he and his wife canned everything from tomatoes to peaches which he stored in the fruit cellar that he had designed as part of his basement. He retained his old gas stove from his old house and cooked huge meals in the basement while keeping their upstairs kitchen cool for after church family gatherings.
He was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. Joe never owned an automobile nor had a drivers license, but rarely missed mass. They were situated on the bus line and during inclement weather they had one of their sons or daughter drive them to the church. The nuclear family all lived within a one and a half mile radius of his home.
Joe was an honorary member of the Versailles Borough Volunteer Fire Co. and put in many hours as a trustee keeping the fireman's rec room clean, helping out with the annual street fairs, and cooking hot dogs and sauerkraut in the upstairs bingo hall every week.
He led a full life and stayed mentally alert up until the time of his death from colon cancer in 1980.
