Josef "Joe" Kish, 90, a long time Hopewell Junction resident, formerly of Malden Bridge, Columbia County, died on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at home.
Joe was born on the east side of Manhattan across from a trolley car barn on February 7, 1924. The son of immigrants who were proud to become American citizens, he graduated from Samuel Gompers Vocation School with an electrical degree.
He served in the Army in World War II as a radio operator with the 803rd Military Police Battalion Zone of Interior through North Africa to Bizerte, Tunisia, where they boarded ships for the invasion of Italy with the 5th Army. His unit received 2 Bronze Stars and the Meritorious Unit Streamer. His company 'D' also received a Silver Band for the North Apennines Campaign in Italy.
Joe married Amy T. Goetz on September 6, 1948 at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Flushing, Queens.

After his discharge, he started a company transporting fine furniture for decorators, designers and custom manufacturers. After 30 enjoyable years he sold his successful company and retired. Not being able to sit still he went to work as a sales rep for a car care product company, and after 17 more years, he retired again.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Joe was a volunteer van driver for the DAV bringing veterans to and from the VA Hospital in Castle Point. He was an usher at St. Columba Church for over 45 years and would also open and prep the church for the 7:30 am Mass.
Being an ex truck driver, he loved to travel. They said he had gasoline in his veins, and Amy and Joe would take vacations that logged 8000-9000 miles in the United States and Canada. They had seen every state in the Union at least twice, always looking up historical and national sites. They also traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, the lower provinces of Canada, and almost all the islands in the Caribbean. He always said, "Whatever they have in any other country, we have here."
Survivors include his wife, Amy, of 66 years; his son, Dr. Josef J. Kish and his wife Dr. Maryellen Moore, and their children Peter, Jenna, and Kristin of Methuen, MA; his daughter, Lisa Brenner and her husband Larry, and her children Dillon Hawkes of Poughkeepsie, and Jesse Hawkes of San Diego, CA; his son, Dr. Kurt Kish and his wife Libby and their children, Katy and Christopher of Hopewell Junction; his sister, Elsie of Floral Park, Queens; and 47 nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 2 – 5 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Monday at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by burial in St. Denis Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Columba Church, DAV Chapter 144 of Castle Point, or Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation. For driving directions, online condolences, or memorial donations, please visit Joe's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.