Dr. Joseph A. "Doc Joe" Kobuszewski, DVM, 70, Valley Falls, died unexpectedly, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at his residence.
He was born January 8, 1948, at Salina, the son of Edmund J. and Regina C. Karber Kobuszewski.
Doc Joe graduated from Gypsum High School in 1966. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Nutrition from Kansas State University and then a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from KSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. He taught anatomy and physiology at KSU College of Veterinary Medicine for one year before opening Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Valley Falls in 1977. The clinic was later expanded as Countryside Veterinary Medical Center. From 2001 until the present he practiced at Doc Joe's Vet Supply, Valley Falls.
He was honored as Kansas Veterinarian of the Year in 1994, the youngest veterinarian in Kansas to receive the award. He had served as a Kansas delegate for the American Veterinary Medical Association for eight years and was a Northeast Kansas Director for KVMA. He was a past president of the Kansas Livestock Association. He attended Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka, and was a 40 year member of Knights of Columbus Council 6671 at Valley Falls.
Doc Joe's hobbies included classic car restoration and making fudge for area fundraisers.
He married Denise Eskridge Dec. 30, 1972 in Richardson, TX. They divorced.
Survivors include his two sons, Bodahn (Christy) Kobuszewski, Richardson, TX, and Gates (Jamie) Kobuszewski, Virginia Beach, Virginia; his mother, Regina C. Kobuszewski, Hanover; his companion, Debby McCormack, Topeka; his brother, Dr. Michael (Carol) Kobuszewski, DVM, Topeka; his four sisters, Carolyn (David) Lickteig, and Captain Anita Kobuszewski USN (Ret.), all of Hanover, Jeanne Kobuszewski, Sheboygan, WI, and Patricia (Dennis) Greenhaw, Lawrence; four grandchildren; Christian, Presley, William, and Maverick, and many nephews and nieces.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Monday, at the church, followed by a visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund for the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine and sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.