Josef Kawonczyk

Josef Kawoncyk

Josef Kawonczyk, 96, of Union died on November 27, 2013 at Manor Care, Mountainside NJ, from complications after a recent fall at home.

Funeral arrangements by the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave., Union, NJ.

Visitation on Saturday morning from 8 AM – 8:45 AM

A private graveside service will be held at the family cemetery plot at Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA.

Josef was born in Poland in 1917. He served in the Polish Army, was captured and held prisoner of war in Germany during WWII. He was liberated by the American forces and always wanted to immigrate to the United States. After his freedom was secured, he married Helen, his wife of 59 years who died in 2009.

Initially they and resided in Bradford, Yorkshire England. In 1959, they immigrated to the United States, residing in Newark and Irvington before moving to Union, NJ in 1977.

Josef worked at AP Smith Co. a division of US Pipe in Bloomfield and Schering Plough Pharmaceutical, from where he retired in 1983.

Josef is survived by his sons Peter and George, grandchildren Patrick, Steven, Robert, Cynthia and Tyler and great granddaughter Anya.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to be sent to St. Barnabas Hospice, 95 Old Short Hills Rd. West Orange, NJ 07052, in his memory.