Oswald Carlos "Kutchie" Pelaez, Jr.
July 1, 1953 ~ April 3, 2022
Born in:
Asheville, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Oswald Carlos “Kutchie” Pelaez, Jr., 68, set sail for Paradise on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in his family home, surrounded by loved ones.
Father, Husband, Warrior, Poet- Kutchie Pelaez made his grand debut on July 1, 1953, in Asheville to the late Oswald Carlos Pelaez, Sr. and Polly Riddle Pelaez. Kutchie was a graduate of Asheville High School and he, alongside his wife and family, owned and operated various enterprises throughout his lifetime, most notably Kutchie’s Key West Bar and Grill in Arden.
Kutch was a true renaissance man- an artist with not only brush and pen but a truly gifted sculptor and celebrated chef, providing “The Place To Be” to his community for over three decades. Among his many passions and interests in his fleeting time with us-including being a lifetime member of Calvary Baptist Church- he was a true lover of animals and the great outdoors; a man of the mountains but also the beaches.
Kutch left this world as he lived it- bravely and with a tenacity that we are not soon likely to see again. He is celebrated in life by his wife, Anita Heaton Pelaez; sons, “The Three Amigos”- Oswald Carlos III, Santino Nicholas, and Joseph Pacino; granddaughters, (his heartbeats) Cordelia and Elena Pelaez; brothers, Pete Pelaez (Jan) and Joseph Horecny (Terri); sister, Patricia Burke (Curtis); along with many beloved nieces and nephews. He is also preceded in death by his sister, Judie Davis.
The memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 24, at 3:00 p.m., at Woodfin Riverside Park, 1598 Riverside Drive, Woodfin, NC 28804.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Fond memories of Kutch and Kutchie’s Key West. I wish I had one more Goody Goody, made special by Kutch! My condolences to Anita and family.
Cathy Young
Am thinking of all of your wonderful family. I’m so glad the Three Amigos are close by.
Anita you and your family are in our prayers 🙏. May God bless you and comfort you at this most difficult time.
Kutch, it was an honor and a privilege being your nurse over the past year. I only wish I could have know you in your Key West, chef days!! We could talk about the keys and have a slice of key lime pie together!! I know your family will miss you dearly but I hope you are now at peace 💙
A force of light and love my entire life. I don’t know how else to describe Kutch. He always had a story, a remedy, a smile, for any situation. Two sayings from him I’ll hear always; “Glad you got to see me” and “I’ll dance at your wedding”…will forever be in my heart. While he wasn’t able to dance at my wedding, he was then, and will always and forever have my soul dancing. I can’t write all of the stories here, but know that my heart overflows with love and gratitude because you are part of it. Love always, “Your little ketchup bottle” (he knows what this means 🥰)
Carlos and family,
We are so sad too hear the loss Kutch, each of you are in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord bless you and comfort you during this time.
To Anita, a truly warm. loving caring person, my prayers are with you.
Cathy Young
Our sincere condolences to the family, we will be holding you up in our thoughts and prayers. How amazing and blessed it must have been to share his amazing journey we call life with him. Love you Anita.
Anita I am thinking of you and your family with love and friendship. My heart hurts for you.
My soul sister, Anita. Mere words cannot express my heart feelings for you and the Boys. What a gracious and wonderful caregiver and life partner you have been. I count it a privilege to be your friend and know your precious family. Always my love
The Greatest Uncle any kid could ever imagine. I cherished the sculptures you made for me as a kid, not just for how cool they were, but for the creativity of the artist. From the TR6 rides (slalom in and out of construction cones) to the flood ride in the Lincoln, I always had a blast with you. I love you and I will miss you. Anita, Carlos, Santino and Joseph, my thoughts, prayers and love are with you.
My dear sister and nephews Carlo Tino Joseph so sorry about ur dad he was a special man 2 lots of people he will be remembered that way.Anita i was so happy u found each other member first time saw u together u looked so happy kinda knew what was 2 come. see u again kutch love little bro
My sincere condolences. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
With sincere sympathy to you, Anita, and your family! May your memories be of great comfort in coming days!
Joe, Terri, Allie and Zoe Horecny
What wonderful and thoughtful words to honor such a special man. Thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for the family. Love you Anita.
Kutch! So talented in so many ways, and so brave to have endured the ravages of M.S. for so long. A wonderful
father and family man. Anita and the boys, our hearts and payers are with you. Lots of love and God speed.
It was an honor and privilege to be Kutch’s home health nurse for over 6 months! He loved to try to make me smile and tell jokes. He had a huge heart and an amazing family support! He will be greatly missed! I’m just thankful for the opportunity to know him and his family!
We are so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you.
Julie
Kutche was the most amazing person. A great husband to Anita and loving father to the three amigos. He will be greatly missed. Sending love and Prayers for Anita and the boys.
Praying for each of you. Kutchie was such a good man. He is with his uncle Jimmy again. Love and Prayers…Aunt Barbara
Anita and the 3 Amigos: saddened to hear of Kutchie’s passing. I have fond memories of sitting at the bar with David, Rob, Sy and Kimberly. I have made Sy and Kimberly aware of his death. We’d love to know when the memorial service takes place, if possible
The memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 24, at 3:00 p.m., at Woodfin Riverside Park, 1598 Riverside Drive, Woodfin, NC 28804.
Anita, Don’t even know where to start.. so many great memories, from watching the boys grow up into fine young men, meeting the love of my life, sharing the same birthday as Kutchie , buying my Marquis Spa and to the many philosophies on life discussions.. Kutchie’s Key West B&G was a part of my life and a staple for great food with friends and patrons. Very saddened for the physical loss, he will be missed..
To the family, I am sorry for the grief that you are feeling.
Knowing of God’s love for you, continue to look to him when he ” will wipe out all tears from our eyes, death, suffering, and pain will be no more “Revelation 21:3,4
He says death is an ” enemy that will be brought to nothing ” 1 Corinthians 15:26
How comforting to know that this will be a thing of the past and through Christ Jesus a resurrection for our loved ones.
jrfdog@gmail.com
My dear Kutch and Anita,
Sure, you gave birth to the Three Amigos, but you two are the original Dos Amigos–who gave birth to the Key West realities in this Asheville part of the world. When entering your home, I always had the feeling of moving into the world of Key West.
Even when incapacitated, sitting at his desk command post, Kutch insisted that he was going back to work. He was doggedly determined to achieve his desires. The work he held fast to was the work of the Key West Bar & Grill–the salad dressings he’d make, the menu he kept in his desk drawer, the heavy boxes he heaved, and restaurant he labored to care for with such love.
The love affair of Kutch and Anita was always evident–the way they related to each other, sense of humor, able to harmonize their differences while standing in them, each as half of the whole. Anita was not only his forever lover but also his dedicated and relentless caretaker, who’d fight for his welfare with hospital, physicians, and agencies– time and time and time again. With all that Kutch endured, he never lost his dignity–because he held strong to his hold on himself, and because Anita never lost sight of his dignity either.
I was on their team for several years as CarePartners Palliative Care nurse practitioner; I’m grateful that Kutch has been able to move on, my heart full of tenderness with warm memories and appreciation of his spirit, gratitude for association with Kutch and Anita, and to have been in the presence of their fierce love for each other, for their three devoted sons Carlos, Santino, and Joseph, and Kutch’s father who lived just across the street before passing. The family’s middle name and credo must be “dignity in love.”
Rest in peace dear Kutch. You are loved. And what an absolutely dashing picture! Anita, we’re with you.
Deeply touched by a time when this KIND man stopped to help my son with his car when we had a breakdown. So sorry to have missed this.
Long lost cousin. I wish I would have found you sooner. RIP
Rest in peace, my old friend