PORTAGE — A local businessman is being remembered for his generosity and his butchering skills.

Paul Porinchak, retired owner and butcher of Porinchak’s Market, the oldest family-owned store in Portage, passed away May 7 at home at the age of 86.

Porinchak, who cared about his customers and his community, spent decades behind the counter at Porinchak’s Market, where he carried on the family tradition begun by his grandparents in 1900.

He took great pride in providing only the highest quality meats and personal service to every customer, friends and family said, noting his handcrafted kolbassi became a local favorite, earning him generations of loyal patrons who also became friends.

“He made his own kolbassi and sausage. … It was very good,” said Randy Stager, former owner of Stager Chevrolet.

Gary Badoux said Porinchak’s homemade kolbassi sold “like wild cakes.”

Porinchak was known to go the extra mile for customers who wanted specialty items, said Badoux, adding that Porinchak was dedicated to his store and his customers.

“He always carried a notebook with him with a list of things to do and things to get,” he said.

“He would spend all day in the store even before it opened. He told me he started working at the store when he was ten years old,” Badoux said. “He spent his whole life in that store. He was brought up to take care of every customer and he did. He had a lot of loyal customers.”

Jean Kinley, a cousin of Paul’s wife Kathy, said Porinchak was willing to help anybody he could.

“If times were tough and you didn’t have any money, he would not let you starve. He learned from his father and grandfather. If you had five dollars, you would pay five dollars,” Kinley said.

Kinley said Porinchak learned from his parents “that you have to help people. … He was very concerned about the fire company and the ambulance association; he had a genuine concern about the people in this town.”

Stager agreed, noting Porinchak was a good guy who helped a lot of people.

“He would carry a lot of customers on credit when times were tough,” Stager said.

While Kinley said Porinchak didn’t have a time to join a lot of organizations because “he was always working,” he participated in the Portage bowling league in his younger years. He also served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for six years. In addition, he was a member of Holy Family Parish, Portage American Legion Post 430, Portage Moose Lodge and Benscreek Social and Citizens Club.

“He was a small town businessman and was very concerned about this town,” Kinley said.

Porinchak is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kathy, as well as their children, grandchildren and other family members.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at Holy Family Catholic Church, Portage, with Father Thomas Stabile, celebrant. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portage.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.