Joseph Herman Muck, Iii.

Joseph H. Muck, “Joe,” passed away on September 21, 2021 at the age of 84. He was born on June 3, 1938 to Blanche and Joseph H. Muck, Jr. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Martin’s in first and second grade then moved to Crafton, PA where he attended St. Phillips grade school. Joe graduated from Crafton High School in 1956. During his high school years he was a Boy Scout, member of the Civil Air Patrol, and a member and officer of the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh. After high school he continued mountain climbing, rock climbing, caving and rafting.

Joe climbed mountains in the U. S. and South America where he and his team were the first climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Jangyaraju at 18,734 feet. While in South America he visited with several native tribes in Ecuador and conducted anthropological and geographical research in the field. He also spent time in Managua, Nicaragua where he mapped the area around the active volcano, Masaya. He and his partner, Ivan Jirak descended 400 feet into the active crater.

Joe was inducted into the U. S. Army in 1961. He completed his basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina then was sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas to trained as a field medic. He finished his military career at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia where he met the love of his life, Barbara J. Spear. Joe and Barbara married in 1962 and immediately began a family. They are survived by their three sons, Joe IV, Tom, and Dusty, 11 grandchildren, Joe V, Zach, Nick, Jake, Tom, Jr., Erica, Jackson, Meghan, Gavin, Payton, and Madison, four great grandchildren, Cassie, Kennedy, Shelby, and Avery.

Joe spent 46 years in the candy business. He was national sales manager at Luden’s. He finished his career in the business with Lindt and Sprungli as the military sales manager. He also consulted for Godiva for the military commissions and exchanges. During his career he was a member of Pittsburgh Candy Club and the NY Candy Club. He was named ambassador to the National Confection Association, inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame (1989), and received the Distinguished Service Award (2009). He was a member of the NCSA Board and served a term as its president.

Joe was active in the communities where he lived. He served on the Crescent Township Zoning Board, Moon Township Baseball Association board, and quite a number of different roles at the churches he attended in Pittsburgh and Saint John Neumann in Lilburn.

Joe became ill in 1997 with cardio myopathy and on May 4, 1998 Joe received a heart transplant. Six years after the heart transplant, the heart medications he was taking damaged his kidneys. He needed another transplant. All his boys were tested, and much to the relief of Joe IV and Tom, Dusty was a perfect match. Joe received one of his youngest son’s kidneys in 2004.

Tragically, Joe lost his beloved wife of 59 years in June to a stroke. He is happy to be with her again.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Saint John Neumann via check or through their website at sjnlilburn.com .

A visitation will be held Friday, October 1, from 6-8 pm at Wages and Sons Funeral Home at 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. A funeral mass will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 791 Tom Smith Rd., Lilburn, GA 30047.