Joseph Kestner

Joseph C. Kestner, age 70, of Erie passed away on  Friday, February 3, 2017 at the Erie VA Medical Center. He was born March 4, 1946 in St. Marys, PA the son of the late Charles and Marie Murphy Kestner.
Joe was a 1964 graduate of McDowell High School and served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the SeaBees. Following the war, he became a structural ironworker with Local 348 which later merged with Pittsburgh Local 3. Joe retired from there as a lifelong honorary member of the union. For many years he also ran and operated the stage riggers for both the Erie Civic Center and the Crawford County Fair. Joe was also the former owner of the Rasthskellar tavern on State St.
He was a board member and lifetime member of the Erie County Sportsmen League and was a life member of the NRA. He was a member and served as a section coordinator for the USPSA and was a life member of the Erie Maennerchor club.
Joe and his wife Barb also loved their Harley Davidsons and were members of HOGS chapter 2293.Through HOGS, they loved raising money for local charities and also were Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus at the Harley Davidson store at Christmas time.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Barbara Avery Kestner; a daughter, Sara Berry and her husband Andrew of Paso Robles, CA and proud grandfather to Landon and Wyatt Berry. Joseph had many special friends including Kevin and Megan Adamski and their children, Rylee and Blake.
Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM and are invited to attend Funeral Services there Tuesday at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Activities Fund of the Erie VA Medical Center, 135 E.38th St., Erie, PA  16504.