Joseph J. Bratkovich, 64, of Butler died Wednesday morning at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.

He was born Oct. 28, 1948, in Butler and was a son of the late John and Alma (Dellana) Bratkovich.

He graduated from Karns City High School in 1966 and from Robert Morris University in 1974.

He had worked for the Renick Brothers Construction Co. in Slippery Rock, starting in 1979 as an accountant. He worked his way up to vice president before retiring March 23, 2012.

Joe was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler, the Downtown Business Association, the Community Development Corporation of Butler County and the United Way of Butler County.

He served on the Butler City Council from 1994 until 2012. He was on the boards of the Butler Area Public Library, the Butler Area Sewer Authority, the Butler Transit Authority and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler.

Joe represented the city of Butler in the Pennsylvania Municipal League of Cities, serving on numerous committees including the board of directors and was vice chair of the Northwest District.

He had a favorite saying: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Surviving are his wife, Maureen (Bitter) Bratkovich, who he married April 17, 1971; his daughter, Colleen (Ron) Gianneski of Butler; his son, Joe (Dyane) Bratkovich of Butler; his beloved grandchildren, Erin Gianneski and Max Gianneski, and also baby Bratkovich, expected in November of this year. He also is survived by his faithful companion, Boomer, a Goldendoodle.

BRATKOVICH — Friends of Joseph J. Bratkovich, who died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Please meet at the church.Interment will follow in St. Peter's Parish Cemetery, Butler.St. Paul's Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:40 a.m. Saturday at the church to recite the rosary.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Paul's Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001, or to the Butler Area Public Library, 218 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.