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Joseph Klosek July 25, 1944 - March 26, 2021

Joseph Klosek, 76 years young, died at home on Friday, March 26, 2021 in Wescosville, PA.  He was born in South Amboy, NJ, a son of the late Sigmund and Connie (DiBiase) Klosek.  He was the loving husband and friend of Linda (Gross) Klosek, celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary in October 2020.

He was a graduate of Sayreville High School, Sayreville, NJ and Lehigh University with a B.S. and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering.  He started working at Air Products in May 1966 in Research and Development, progressed to Senior Process Design Manager, and was named Senior Engineering Associate where he designed and managed the process design of plants for a variety of technologies, from nuclear off-gas processing to producing SNG.  He was typically involved with challenging new technologies.  At retirement in 2002 he was Senior Engineering Associate in the Process Engineering group of the HYCO product supply team.  He returned in 2004 to 2007 to work part-time on gasification technology.  He co-holds 7 patents and has co-authored approximately 30 publications and presentations.

In 1978 and again in 1985 he received the Technology Symposium Outstanding Speaker Award.  In 1998 he received the Invention Recognition Award in appreciation for contributions to the invention and patent in gas turbine operation with liquid fuel vaporization.  He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and served as past Chairman and Treasurer of the Lehigh Valley Section.  He also served as a member of the HYCO Proprietary Technology Committees.

Joe was very well-liked and he loved to help family, friends, and neighbors.  He was a kind, compassionate, generous, and loving person – putting everyone ahead of himself.  He took great joy in the accomplishments and activities of each of his grandchildren and loved spending time with them.  He was an avid Lehigh football fan.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters: Lori (Klosek) Varano and husband Dr. Kenneth Varano of Coopersburg, PA, and Kim (Klosek) Ellis of Manassas, VA; five grandchildren: Kimberly Varano of FL, Rose, Dominick, Grace, and Joseph Varano all at home; a brother John Klosek and wife Pat of Parlin, NJ; a sister Catherine Klosek of Allentown, PA; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives; a brother-in-law Alan Gross and wife Patrice.  He was predeceased by a sister Rosemarie (Klosek) Crolius, wife of Cliff Crolius.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, March 30th in the St. Thomas More Catholic Church 1040 Flexer Avenue, Allentown.  Call 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Monday in the Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. 274 North Krocks Road, Allentown and 9:30 – 10:30 A.M. Tuesday in the church.  All attendees are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Service will be livestreamed on the church’s website https://stmchurchallentown.org/.  Under the Mass Schedule click on the Youtube link to access the funeral of Joseph Klosek. If you have any concerns please call 610-434-6304.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to:

The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, 1605 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. Suite 515A, Allentown, PA 18104; mllv.org/donate

The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017; www.arcoflehighnorthampton.org

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 98018, Washington DC 20090-8018; www.lls.org

St. Luke’s Hospice, Development Office, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015; www.slhn.org/Donate-St-Lukes (select “Hospice” in the Designation field)

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