Joe (Joseph Vincent) Pachta, 97

Joe (Joseph Vincent) Pachta, 97, of Belleville, KS, died peacefully with loved ones by his side on July 8, 2026, at the Republic County Hospital.

Joe was born on February 17, 1929, to Vincent and Magdalena (Baxa) Pachta. Joe grew up on the family farm east of Belleville, attended Prairie Home Country School and graduated from Belleville High School in 1946.

Three things were very important to Joe: his Catholic faith, his family and his farming. His friendship with Msgr. Brown led him to meet his wife Catharine Stehno on a car ride with Msgr. Brown to a Catholic Youth retreat. Joe and Catharine started dating and were falling in love, but Uncle Sam had other plans. Joe left for the war in Korea on July 29, 1952, where he worked as a diesel mechanic, maintaining road graders. Joe wrote to Catharine every day for the 16 months he was in Korea. He arrived back on July 16, 1954, and married Catharine one month later. Joe and Catharine cherished their life together on the farm with their four children: Janet, Jim, Julie and Jon.

Joe was steadfast in his Catholic faith; he was an active member of St George's Catholic Church in Munden for 60 yrs and later a member of St Edward's after retiring in Belleville. Joe and Catharine served as Eucharistic Ministers at St George's Catholic Church and often took communion to the homebound. Attending daily mass was a priority and a privilege for both of them. Joe enjoyed his coffee group after mass visiting with his friends. Joe was an active 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Joe was totally dedicated to his wife and family. He shared his faith with his children and taught them to work hard and do their best. Joe and Catharine were insistent on their children getting an education.

Joe was a lifelong farmer, raking hay with a horse drawn rake at age 10, and later establishing a farm operation east of Munden after marrying Catharine. Joe and Catharine farmed side by side for more than 60 years. After Catharine's death, Joe enjoyed driving around to check on his farms. Joe instilled the love of farming in his children and grandchildren. "The Farm" was a wonderful gathering place for all of Joe and Catharine's children and grandchildren.

Joe was first a farmer but also a skilled mechanic and carpenter. He maintained and repaired his farm equipment and built the family farmhouse and multiple farm outbuildings. Joe served on the local school board and served as township trustee for many years. He was always learning new skills and stayed up to date on the local and national news.

We will deeply miss Joe's laughter and stories and love. He always said, "I love you," at the end of a phone conversation. Joe had a positive attitude that inspired everyone around him. One of his mottos was "Make it a good day." Joe adapted to many changes in his life and embraced them with positivity and prayer. His later life was spent in prayer, praying for anyone in need of anything. He often said, "Praying is all I can do now!" Little did he know he was keeping everyone going and there was a reason for his long, wonderful life. Yes, he will be missed, but we know that Joe is now in heaven with his sweetheart Catharine continuing to pray for all of us!

"There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." May we all celebrate Joe's life with much laughter and dancing!

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Catharine, his brothers Edward and Raymond Pachta, his sisters Rita Stehno, Irene Popelka, and Marcella Koukol, his brother-in-law Jim Stehno, his sister-in-law Delores Pachta, his grandson Patrick Galligan, his great granddaughter Candace Grace Ohlde, and his son-in-law Daniel McLaughlin.

Joe is survived by his children: Janet (Larry) Galligan, Jim (Marilyn) Pachta, Julie McLaughin, Jon (Renee) Pachta; his grandchildren: Catharine (Michael) Wehkamp, Chris (Ella) Pachta, Matt (Nicole Delimont) Pachta, Andrew (Dixie) Pachta, Melissa (Levi) Ohlde, Ian (Brice) McLaughlin, Megan (Seth) Stutes, Kelsi (Ben) Guerra, Elyse (Damian) Rottinghaus, Ryan (Anna) Pachta, Aaron Pachta, Emily Pachta and 20 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, John (Fran), Vince (Judy), and Sr Bernadine Pachta, sister-in-law Carol Pachta and also by his brother-in-law Edward (Donna) Stehno and sister-in-law Theresa (Mike) Donahue.

Visitation will be at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and the Rosary will be prayed at St Edward's Catholic Church on Sunday July 19, at 7:00 pm. The family will greet friends and family after the rosary at a reception in the Sacred Heart Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St Edward's Catholic Church on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 9:30 am, with interment with Military Honors immediately following at St Katherine's Catholic Cemetery, rural Belleville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St Edward's Catholic Church or the Sisters of St Joseph, and may be mailed to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting the Pachta family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com

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Joe (Joseph Vincent) Pachta, 97

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