Alex Joseph “Joe” Kitka, age 92, slipped peacefully from this world on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family at his home in Spring Hill, Tennessee. He lived a life that was nothing short of remarkable, shaped by courage, anchored in devotion, and grounded by a quiet strength that left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.

Born in Red Jacket, West Virginia in 1933, Joe answered the call of duty at just 19 years old, enlisting in the Navy and serving as a medical corpsman attached to the 1st Marine Division during the Korean War. His bravery under fire was extraordinary, honored with both the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross for heroism, yet those who knew Joe understood that his quiet courage extended far beyond the battlefield. He carried himself with the kind of dignity that needed no announcement.

Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, Katie Kitka, the great love of his life, as well as his parents Alex and Margaret Kitka, and his sisters, Margaret Stone and Rosie Bruner.

Joe is survived by children, Alex Jeffrey Kitka (Michelle), Alisa Jo Crabtree (Tim); grandchildren, Katie Yommer (Chris), Kristen Hogan (Joshua), Lauren Iglehart (Justin), Alix-Ann Kitka (Marcus Mulick), James Kitka (Marine); each carry a piece of him forward; and his 10 great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him “GG” with all the warmth and adoration those two little letters can hold, who knew without question that they were cherished.

Joe was an avid golfer who found something close to peace on the fairway. He was a formidable card player (ask anyone who sat across the table from him), a devoted lover of all things chocolate, and a die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fan who never missed a game, always dressed in his OSU gear and win or lose, always proud of his team. Above all, he was a man whose presence made every room feel fuller, and every gathering feel warmer.

He was, in the truest sense, the life force of his family. A steady, shining constant they could always count on. That light does not go out. It lives on in the people he loved so well.

Joe will be profoundly missed and forever remembered. In Lieu of flowers donations can me made Disabled American Veterans.