Joseph "Joeman" Fatula, 97, formerly of Arizona Avenue, Shenandoah Heights, and a resident at Shenandoah Senior Living Community, passed away peacefully Friday evening at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.

Born in Eckley, April 15, 1919, he was a son of the late Michael and Anna Flatko Fatula.

Joe spent a great part of his life in Raven Run, having been raised there and being employed by Pagnotti Enterprises as a shovel operator. As a resident of the village, he and his brothers were proud members of the Raven Run Daisies baseball team.

Joseph was a decoratedWorld War II Army veteran. He attained the rank of TEC4 and served as an auto mechanic with the 350th Engineering Battalion, 80th Infantry Division of Gen. George Patton's Third Army. He served in the European Theater of Operations, where he was awarded theBronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal and European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with four bronze stars. Joseph was one of four brothers serving simultaneously in WWII overseas.

He was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah, and the former St. Casimir Parish, Shenandoah; Knelly-Podany American Legion Post 616, Sheppton, and United Mine Workers of America.

He was an avid outdoorsman and thoroughly enjoyed God's gifts in nature. He delighted in such activities as hunting, fishing, picking huckleberries, mushrooms and chestnuts just to name a few. Joe's love for baseball kindled at a young age in Raven Run continued throughout as a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Joseph was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren especially brought him great joy. He always delighted in spending time with them.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his wife, the former Alice V. Beninsky, on Oct. 20, 2015; two sisters, Helen Moyer and Eleanor Fatula; six brothers, John, Francis, Michael, Thomas, Albert and Lawrence Fatula.

Surviving are three daughters, Helen Vislusky and her husband, Anthony, Shenandoah Heights, Mary Jo Collatos and her husband, George, Panama City Beach, Fla., and Debra Armenante and her husband, Mitchell, Waynesville, N.C.; two grandsons, Brian Vislusky and his wife, Kara, Williamsport, Md., and Anthony J. Vislusky and his companion, Stacy Cannon, Waynesville, N.C.; two great-grandchildren, Brianna and Bayley Vislusky, Williamsport, Md.; a brother, Edmund Fatula, Turkey Run, Shenandoah; nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 9 in St. Casimir Church, Shenandoah, the sacred worship site of Divine Mercy Parish. Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor, will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Casimir Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.

Relatives and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements.