Joseph James Kulifay

Joseph James Kulifay, 81 died Thursday morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center. He was born August 4, 1923 in Struthers a son of Joseph T. and Mary Ziga Kulifay. He was raised in Poland and has lived in East Palestine for fifty years. He graduated from Poland Seminary High School in 1941. Upon completion of military service he received a degree from Youngstown State University in 1953. Mr. Kulifay served in the Army in WWII at the Battle of the Bulge as a forward observer for an artillery unit. He was a television broadcast engineer for WFMJ TV retiring after 30 years. He also taught science, mathematics and driverâa�a��s education at the David Anderson High School in Lisbon from 1971 to 1981 and electronics and mathematics at the ATES Jr. College in Niles for five years. He was a farmer and a member of the Unity Township Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of St. Mathias Church, the Unity Township Ruritan, the Unity P.T.O. where he served as president, the Lisbon Teachers Association, NABET, Local 47 and the Slovak National Sokols, He was an amateur radio operator with the call sign âa�A"W8JODâa�A� and enjoyed rebuilding and recreating automobiles. He leaves his wife the former Helen Kot whom he married November 24, 1948; three daughters, Attorney Marilyn Kulifay of Houston, Texas, Elaine (Joseph) Guntner of Advance North Carolina, Joan Kulifay of Orange, California; two sons, Joseph P. (Angelica) Kulifay and Paul T. (Pamela) Kulifay both of Fairfield, Ohio and President and Vice President respectively of Bronco Excavating, Inc.; two sisters, Helen (Wayne) Sommer of Zelienople, Pennsylvania and Mary Klema of Newport Beach, California and a sister in law, Theresa Kulifay of Poland; grandchildren, Joseph J. and Michael A. Kulifay and Joseph U., Margaret and Paul Guntner. Funeral Services will be Monday with a Prayer Service at 9:30 at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland and Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthias Church in Youngstown at 10:00 AM. Friends may visit at the funeral home Sunday From 3 âa�" 8 PM where the Infant of Prague Guild will have a Prayer Service at 2:45 PM. Condolences may be sent at beckerobit.com

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