Reverend William M. Kuba, 87, of East Brady died Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Water Run Landing, Clarion after a period of failing health.
Born August 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 sharecropper 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 five, Father Kuba remembers tugging on his mother’s dress in the back of the 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.
n 1950 after the untimely death of his mother from cancer, her cousin, Msgr. 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 and attended Cathedral Prep school and graduated in 1954. He entered Gannon College in Erie (now Gannon University) for two years then attended St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York 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. A day that he called “truly a Memorial Day.” He was assigned as an assistant to Fr. Andrew Quirk at the Church of the Beloved Disciple in Grove City. There he was chaplain of Pennsylvania George Junior Republic and Grove City College.
In 1964, Father Kuba was 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, the 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 made assistant headmaster of the school. He was also 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 from which 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. In 1992, he was assigned to St. Calistus Parish in Kane, PA.
From May through 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 of 1998, Father Kuba 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 Priest’s 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 is one sister, Donna M. Buczo of Meadows Place, TX, one sister-in-law, Jeanette Kuba, of Sommerville, NJ; two nephews, James John “JJ” (Tina) Kuba, Hickory, NC; Coleman “Chip” (Traci) Buczo, of Sugar Land, TX and one niece, Ann Marie Kuba of Sommerville, NJ. Great nephews Coleman “Cole” Buczo, Spencer Kuba, and St. John Kuba-McCoy. Great nieces Abigail Buczo, Katie Kuba, and Zanzy Kuba-McCoy.
Also surviving are the parishioners who became family over the past 26 years. We will forever be thankful for your devotion to our families and our faith. He will be deeply missed.
Friends of Rev. William M. Kuba will be received from 4:00-6:00 PM Thursday, June 13, 2024, at St. Richard Church, 83 Purity Avenue, Rimersburg, PA 16248. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at St. Richard Church with Very Rev. B. LaMounte Sayers, presiding.
Visitation will also be held from 9:00-10:45 AM Friday, June 14, 2024, at St. Eusebius Church, 301 E. 2nd Street, East Brady, PA 16028 followed immediately by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM with Most Reverend Lawerence 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 Inc., East Brady, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Father Kuba’s name to Catholic Rural Ministries, 7 Pulaski Street, Oil City, PA 16301, or St. Eusebius Cemetery, 301 E. 2nd Street, East Brady, PA 16028.
To view or express condolences please visit www.BuecheleFuneralHome.com.