Joseph V. Pachta

July 8, 2026

Joe (Joseph Vincent) Pachta, 97, of Belleville, KS, died peacefully on July 8, 2026, at the Republic County Hospital. Joe was born on Feb. 17, 1929, to Vincent & Magdalena (Baxa) Pachta. Joe grew up on the family farm east of Belleville, attended Prairie Home Country School and graduated from Belleville High School in 1946. Three things were very important to Joe: his Catholic faith, his family and his farming. His friendship with Msgr. Brown led him to meet his wife Catharine Stehno on a car ride to a Catholic Youth retreat. Joe and Catharine started dating and were falling in love, but Uncle Sam had other plans. Joe left for the war in Korea on July 29, 1952, and he wrote to Catharine daily for the 16 months he was in Korea. He returned on July 16, 1954, and married Catharine one month later. Joe and Catharine cherished their life together on the farm with their four children: Janet, Jim, Julie and Jon. 

Joe was steadfast in his Catholic faith; he was an active member of St George's Catholic Church in Munden for 60 yrs and later a member of St Edward's in Belleville. Joe and Catharine served as Eucharistic Ministers at St George's Catholic Church and often took communion to the homebound. Attending daily mass was a priority and privilege for both of them. Joe enjoyed his coffee group after mass visiting with friends. Joe was an active 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was a lifelong farmer, raking hay with a horse drawn rake at the age of 10, and later establishing a farm operation east of Munden after marrying Catharine. Joe and Catharine farmed side by side for more than 60 years. After Catharine's death, Joe enjoyed driving around to check on his farms. Joe instilled the love of farming in his children and grandchildren. "The Farm" was a wonderful gathering place for all of Joe and Catharine's children and grandchildren. 

We will deeply miss Joe's laughter, stories and love. He always said, "I love you," at the end of a phone conversation. Joe had a positive attitude that inspired everyone around him. One of his mottos was "Make it a good day." Joe adapted to many changes in his life, embracing them with positivity & prayer. His later life was spent in prayer, for anyone in need of anything. He often said, "Praying is all I can do now!" Little did he know he was keeping everyone going and there was a reason for his long, wonderful life. He will be missed, but we know that Joe is now in heaven with his sweetheart Catharine continuing to pray for all of us!

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, wife Catharine, brothers Edward and Raymond Pachta, sisters Rita Stehno, Irene Popelka, and Marcella Koukol, brother-in-law Jim Stehno, sister-in-law Delores Pachta, grandson Patrick Galligan, great granddaughter Candace Grace Ohlde, and son-in-law Daniel McLaughlin. Joe is survived by his children: Janet (Larry) Galligan, Jim (Marilyn) Pachta, Julie McLaughin, Jon (Renee) Pachta; grandchildren: Catharine (Michael) Wehkamp, Chris (Ella) Pachta, Matt (Nicole Delimont) Pachta, Andrew (Dixie) Pachta, Melissa (Levi) Ohlde, Ian (Brice) McLaughlin, Megan (Seth) Stutes, Kelsi (Ben) Guerra, Elyse (Damian) Rottinghaus, Ryan (Anna) Pachta, Aaron Pachta, Emily Pachta, 20 great grandchildren, siblings John (Fran), Vince (Judy), and Sr. Bernadine Pachta, sister-in-law Carol Pachta, brother-in-law Edward (Donna) Stehno and sister-in-law Theresa (Mike) Donahue.

Visitation is Sun., July 19, 12pm - 4pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Rosary Services will be at 7pm, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Belleville. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St Edward's Catholic Church, Mon., July 20, at 9:30 am, with burial following at St Katherine Catholic Cemetery, rural Belleville. Memorials are requested to St Edward Catholic Church or the Sisters of St Joseph, mailed to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, KS, 66935. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home has arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com