Joseph Stephen Kohalmi

Joseph Stephen Kohalmi returned to his heavenly home on January 5, 2023. Born on July 2, 1947, to Anna (nee Barbalics) and Laszlo Kohalmi in Pápa, Hungary, he was the youngest of eight children.

Charming, charismatic, and hard-working, he was dedicated to his family and friends. At 15, he lied about his age to get a job in Pápa's meat factory, where he received meals as well as four pounds of meat to take home to his impoverished family, weekly. His hard work impressed the seasoned, older employees, and soon caught the attention of the owner. He was given the opportunity to join the company-sponsored wrestling team. He channeled his survival-based fighting spirit on the mat and won two gold medals and one bronze in the national championship.

At age 17, his dogged determination and achievement earned him the opportunity to legally leave the locked-down country, under the sponsorship of his brother Imre (Emery) Kohalmi, who escaped Hungary with his wife Irén (Irene) during the 1956 revolution and settled in Fairfield, CT. There, Joe learned English, worked three jobs, and got his GED.

Family always came first. With his first paychecks, he sent money home to his parents and siblings in Hungary, most notably to purchase an oven for his mom so she didn't have to work as hard to prepare meals and to help his sister purchase a home.

Always fascinated by how things work and with a natural propensity towards problem solving and improving things, he pursued a mechanical engineering degree at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. From there, he got a job at Pepperidge Farm where he automated machinery. The Pepperidge Farm frozen cakes in most grocery stores today used to be iced and assembled by hand. Joe designed the equipment to automate their production 50 years ago. Soon after, Godiva Chocolatier recruited him to innovate equipment and processes where he notably helped to redesign the Godiva storefront on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

His work with Godiva relocated him to Reading, which introduced him to R.M. Palmer Company. There he designed moulding, wrapping, packaging systems, warehousing, refrigeration units, assembly lines, and more. As an executive during this time, he worked with global leaders in engineering to innovate the chocolate industry and advance R.M. Palmer's production, and his expertise caught the attention of Cadbury, M&M Mars, Nestle, and Hershey. Throughout his career, he designed 13 patents held by his employers.

Joe is preceded in death by his son, Robert Emery Kohalmi, and his siblings Laszlo, Imre, Veronika, Pista, Lajos, and Anna. He is survived by Mary E. Kohalmi (nee Horvath), his devoted and loving wife of 49 years; his sister Ibolya Hegyi of Papa, Hungary; and his children, Andréa Kohalmi Summers of Spring, TX (wife of John Van Slyke Summers III); Lisa McBeth of Collegeville, (wife of Kevin McBeth); and Joseph R. Kohalmi of Tampa, FL (husband of Dr. Alicia Kohalmi, nee Kopicki). In addition, his legacy lives on through his five adoring grandchildren: Robert (21) and Joseph (17) Gyomber; Emma (11) and Kevin (8) McBeth; and Asher Kohalmi (2 months). He is loved and missed by the extended Kohalmi and Horvath families spanning Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and across Hungary.

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 13 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Ave, West Reading, PA, 19611. On Saturday, January 14, a viewing will take place at 9:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Catharine of Siena Church, 4975 Boyertown Pike, Reading, PA 19606. Joe will be laid to rest at Forest Hills Memorial Park, 390 West Neversink Road, Reading, PA 19606.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc is honored to serve the Kohalmi family. Online condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.