Kuba

The Rev. William M. Kuba, 87, of East Brady, died Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Water Run Landing, Clarion, after a period of failing health.

Born Aug. 20, 1936, in Youngstown, Ohio, he was the son of Michael E. and Anna E. (Dluhos) Kuba.

At age 2, Father Kuba moved to a sharecroppers house on his grandparents’ farm in Petersburg, Ohio, until 1950. He attended Springfield Public Schools for the first eight grades. He remembers his mother teaching the Baltimore Catechism and reciting the Rosary together at the small shrine they had in their living room, devoted to the Blessed Mother. At age 5, Father Kuba remembers tugging on his mother’s dress in the back of church, telling her “I want to be a priest.” Recently, he laughed in remembering his motives — the priest was the only one at Mass who didn’t have to kneel! Little did he realize how much kneeling his life would bring.

In 1950 after the untimely death of his mother from cancer, her cousin, Monsignor Stephen Meko, came to celebrate her funeral. He asked if Father Kuba was still interested in studying for the priesthood.

Arrangements were made and Father Kuba entered St. Mark’s Seminary, attended Cathedral Preparatory School and graduated in 1954. He entered Gannon College in Erie (now Gannon University) for two years, then attended St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y., for the last six years of his education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Father Kuba and eight others were ordained into the priesthood by Bishop Edward P. McManamen on May 31, 1962, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Erie. It was a day he called “truly a Memorial Day.” He was assigned as an assistant to Father Andrew Quirk at the Church of the Beloved Disciple in Grove City. There he was chaplain of the Pennsylvania George Junior Republic and Grove City College.

In 1964, Father Kuba was the assigned teacher and head of discipline at Elk County Catholic High School, with residence at Holy Rosary Parish in Johnsonburg, Pa. While at the school, he coached the golf team — a hobby he carried into his later years — and chess club, directed the Forensics Club, and wrote and directed several school plays. In 1972, he was moved into the faculty house of the high school and was made assistant headmaster. He also was made administrator of St. Benedict’s Parish in Daguscahonda, Pa. While in Elk County, he earned a National Science Foundation scholarship to study mathematics at the University of Vermont, where he earned a master’s degree in the teaching of mathematics.

In 1974, Father Kuba was made pastor of St. Bibiana’s Parish in Galeton, Pa. In 1982, he was appointed to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Bradford, Pa., and in 1992, he was assigned to St. Callistus Parish in Kane, Pa.

From May to September 1998, Father Kuba served as administrator of Holy Family Parish in Johnsonburg and then was assigned to St. Thomas the Apostle in Corry, Pa. In June 1998, he began his final assignment at St. Eusebius Parish in East Brady and its mission, St. Richard Church in Rimersburg, where he faithfully served for 26 years.

During his 62-year vocation, Father Kuba served on the marriage board as a judge of the marriage tribunal, served on the Priests’ Senate as finance director, served on the Diocesan Board of Finances, and was dean of the Bradford Deanery. He enjoyed golf, reading and a good steak dinner.

Father Kuba was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Kuba; and one brother-in-law, Coleman F. “Pete” Buczo.

Surviving are one sister, Donna M. Buczo of Meadows Place, Texas; one sister-in-law, Jeanette Kuba of Sommerville, N.J.; two nephews, James John “JJ” (Tina) Kuba of Hickory, N.C., and Coleman “Chip” (Traci) Buczo of Sugar Land, Texas; one niece, Ann Marie Kuba of Sommerville, N.J.; great-nephews, Coleman “Cole” Buczo, Spencer Kuba and St. John Kuba-McCoy; and great-nieces, Abigail Buczo, Katie Kuba and Zanzy Kuba- McCoy.

Also surviving are the parishioners who became family during the past 26 years. We will forever be thankful for his devotion to our families and our faith. He will be deeply missed.

KUBA — Friends of the Rev. William M. Kuba, who died Saturday, June 1, 2024, will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Richard Church, 83 Purity Ave., Rimersburg, Pa. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Richard Church with the Very Rev. B. LaMounte Sayers presiding.

Visitation also will be held from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at St. Eusebius Church, 301 E. 2nd St., East Brady, followed immediately at 11 a.m. by a funeral Mass with the Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of Erie, presiding.

Burial will follow in St. Eusebius Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of BUECHELE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, East Brady.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Father Kuba’s name to Catholic Rural Ministries, 7 Pulaski St., Oil City, PA 16301, or St. Eusebius Cemetery, 301 E. 2nd St., East Brady, PA 16028.

To view or express condolences visit www.BuecheleFuneralHome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.