Paul Kucerak, Iii

HERKIMER - Mr. Paul Kucerak III passed away peacefully in his home, in Herkimer, at the age of 93, on December 11, 2023.


Paul was born on February 16, 1930, in Yonkers, New York, the son of the late Paul and Anna (Duga) Kucerak. Paul III grew up on his parents’ dairy farm in Jordanville. He graduated from Owen D. Young High School (Van Hornesville) in 1947. Shortly thereafter he joined the United States Army Air Corps. His service to our country included coordinating logistics for the Berlin Airlift and he was decorated for that service. Returning home he moved to the Albany area where he worked as an auto mechanic during the day and worked in a dress factory at night replacing sewing machine bobbins for seamstresses. On weekends he worked at a hot dog stand in Watervliet, where he met his first wife Anne Berdar. After a time, he and Anne settled in Herkimer.


Paul always had a love for cars and continued working as a mechanic, most notably at Benson Ford in Ilion where he went from mechanic to salesperson to General Manager. He left to start Eastern Auto Mall with a colleague. After running a successful used car business, Eastern Auto Mall moved back to the Ilion location as a Ford new car dealership. In 1980 he expanded the dealership buying the former A&P grocery store to expand his showroom and grow his business that he ran up until he was 90 years old.


In 1973 he married his second wife, Leslie Dean Williamson, a schoolteacher. Together they built a new home on Decker Road, complete with indoor swimming pool.


Paul had a lifelong passion for helping others, especially those who were less fortunate. He was a founding member of the Herkimer Rotary Club where he was instrumental in establishing Rotary’s Foreign Exchange Program. He was a strong supporter and benefactor of ARC Herkimer and the East Herkimer Fire Department. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer, serving on the Church Board for many years.


Paul loved to ski and traveled worldwide to pursue this passion, strengthening bonds with family and friends. He will be remembered for driving the old beat-up Chevy pickup, mowing the lawn with his new Husqvarna and his love of entertaining at his home on Steuben Hill. If Paul had had his way, he would still be saddled up to the sink, peeling potatoes, with his house filled with laughter and warmth from friends and family. He would still be helping people, telling great stories and flashing his thousand-watt smile. And if he could, he’d look back on his life and say, as he often did: “Good show!” And it was.


He is pre-deceased by his first wife, Anne (Berdar); his second wife, Leslie Kucerak; his Siblings: Ann Bokowski, Milan Kucerak, Steve Kucerak, Katherine Kucerak, Elaine Kucerak; and his parents, Paul and Anna Kucerak.


He is survived by his son, Milan R. Kucerak (Deborah); his daughters, Dawn Kucerak, Dale Kucerak, Paula Fuchs and Sarah Zuk (Jonathan); his grandchildren, Logan Kucerak, Andra Guccione (Chris), Natalie Fuchs, Harrison Fuchs, Cole Zuk and Sonja Zuk; along with his great- grandchildren, Kendall and Hayden; his sisters, Elizabeth and Olga; his brothers, John and Daniel; and numerous nieces, great-nieces, along with nephews and great-nephews; and his partner, Susan Schrader.


Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours, on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 North Washington Street, Herkimer, New York. His spring burial service will be in 2024 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Little Falls.


In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, those wishing to remember Paul may consider a donation to Arc Herkimer, 350 S. Washington St., Herkimer, NY 13350, or Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps Inc., 15 New York 5S, Mohawk, NY 13407-4700. Envelopes may be obtained from the Enea Family Funeral Home.


Paul’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Enea Family Funeral Home, Herkimer, NY, Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors (315-866-1011).