Joseph M. Kish

Joseph M. Kish, a cherished father, brother, and friend, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Somerset, Pennsylvania, he was 83 years old. Joe was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up on a small farm nearby. He was destined to walk the fields of natural history—often literally. Surrounded by nature from the beginning, he developed a lifelong fascination with the wild world that would become his everlasting passion and inspire his lengthy career.

Joe liked to call himself “a student of taxidermy,” though the world came to know him as one of its true masters. His curiosity, creativity, and perfectionism led him to raise the bar for an entire profession. He didn’t just practice taxidermy—he redefined it. He introduced standards of accuracy and artistry that had never existed in the field’s 125-year history. He fought to protect the work of his fellow artists, championing copyright laws that protected the creations of fellow artists.

To Joe, each sculpture—each manikin—was more than a form. It was a lesson in anatomy and a celebration of the living creature it represented. He poured his knowledge of bone, muscle, and motion into every detail until the result seemed ready to breathe.  He was a teacher and mentor in the truest sense—generous, patient, and at times, a bit stubborn.

Joe’s talent for his craft and for teaching took him around the world. Despite his countless accolades, awards, and recognition, Joe’s greatest pride was his family and humble beginnings. He was a serious and talented artist who enjoyed telling stories, always with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. He took great joy in his Italian and Hungarian roots and a dinner at Joe’s was a cultural experience—pasta with homemade pesto from his garden or hearty goulash and noodles followed by a toast with Palinka.

Joe’s professional journey was an adventure, and where others saw boundaries, he saw possibilities. From the footprints of curiosity, he forged trails, then roads, into a grand network of artistry that carried taxidermy from the hands of craftsmen to the galleries of art.  Because of Joe, what was once a trade now stands with quiet pride in the halls of museums and the hearts of collectors around the world.

Alas, Joe has taken his final step—off the stage of life and into a timeless kingdom, where we can imagine him standing before St. Peter, gently pointing out that his new wings aren’t quite perpendicular to his shoulders. Those of us fortunate enough to have known Joe will remember him not only for his extraordinary talent and keen intellect, but for his warmth, humor, generosity, and humanity. His legacy endures—in every sculpture he shaped, every student he inspired, and every story shared. Joe was a man who made the world a little more lifelike.

In addition to a large and loving family, as well as many dear friends and neighbors, Joe is survived by his children: Michael (Stacy) Kish, Maria (Michael) Ruehmkorff, Grant (Siten) Chen, and Grace Chen (Alvin Alvarez); six grandchildren; his dear friend and former wife, Jan Kish; his brothers and sisters; many special nieces and nephews; and numerous cherished cousins, both here and abroad. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph S. Kish; his mother, Mary (Legnine) Kish; his sister, Cecilia (Kish) Fusarini; and his brother, Ronald Kish.

Friends will be received on Thursday from 10-12:30 p.m. in The Edward P. Kanai Funeral home, 500 Greenfield Ave. 15207. A Blessing Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Funeral Home. 

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