September 19,1924 – October 29, 2018
We lost our father, grandfather and great grandfather on Monday, October the 29, 2018. He was 94, and we’d like to say a few words about him. He was a son of Polish immigrants, Ignatz and Agnes Czekaj. He was born and raised in ‘down neck’ Newark. He belonged to St. Casimir’s Parish and went to grammar school there and attended Eastside High school. Following high school he joined the army. He served in a USA Infantry Division. He was a Corporal in the 91st Division who are known as the “Trail Blazers”. He was dispatched in WW II to North Africa, Sicily, and onto Italy. On a hilltop in northern Italy, just north of Florence his company of over 200 men were surrounded by German armor and infantry, all but two men survived the Germans’ assault. On being captured the Germans respected them as soldiers and took them prisoner. Our father was one of them just 19 years old, fighting to the end until the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) emptied. He carried his fellow soldier for miles so he wouldn't be left behind. He was awarded: The American Service Medal, The European – African Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Victory Medal
After at least 5 prison camps he was liberated at the conclusion of the European Theatre and married our mother Alice Elizabeth, had two sons and bought a home in Somerville, NJ when it was still rural. We grew up playing in the fields streams and farm ponds along the Raritan River. He made that possible, made sure we went to the best schools, a Catholic school education, Immaculate Conception grammar school and Immaculata HS. We went there despite its expense. He worked three jobs to provide everything we needed, never missed a day of work, found time to be part of raising us, was always faithful to his wife and family, made sure we could get a college education. He was always there when mom was critically ill, being patient, caring and loving. He was a pillar of dependability. He set the highest of standards along with my mother and made sure we walked a straight line.
He is predeceased by his wife Alice of 56 years, his siblings, Joseph, Frank, Matilda, Helen, Josephine and Ann and his grandsons, Padraic and Thomas.
He is survived by his two sons, John and Tom and their wives Barbara and Kathy, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He lived independently at home. He took care of his house, garden, property till he needed the families’ help in maintaining the property. There are no half -mast flags for him or parades. He never talked of the war unless you dug deep with questions and that wasn't until recently. He was always a soldier, a husband a father, grandfather and great grandfather he was our hero our pillar of strength.
He worked for Singer Manufacturing Company as a machinist until its close at Elizabeth Port. He was a member of the American Legion Post 12 for over 50 years, there he served in the ‘Honor Guard’ until he was no longer able to. He was just recently honored as the Parade Marshall at a Memorial Day celebration. A high light in his life, as one of the military, was to Lay a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. He was of the Greatest Generation and we will pray for and miss him.
Visiting hours on Sunday November 4 from 2-5pm at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday November 5 at 10am at the Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville. Interment is scheduled for Wednesday November 7 at Brigadier General Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown NJ at 12:30pm.
We lost our father, grandfather and great grandfather on Monday, October the 29, 2018. He was 94, and we’d like to say a few words about him. He was a son of Polish immigrants, Ignatz and Agnes Czekaj. He was born and raised in ‘down neck’ Newark. He belonged to St. Casimir’s Parish and went to grammar school there and attended Eastside High school. Following high school he joined the army. He served in a USA Infantry Division. He was a Corporal in the 91st Division who are known as the “Trail Blazers”. He was dispatched in WW II to North Africa, Sicily, and onto Italy. On a hilltop in northern Italy, just north of Florence his company of over 200 men were surrounded by German armor and infantry, all but two men survived the Germans’ assault. On being captured the Germans respected them as soldiers and took them prisoner. Our father was one of them just 19 years old, fighting to the end until the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) emptied. He carried his fellow soldier for miles so he wouldn't be left behind. He was awarded: The American Service Medal, The European – African Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Victory Medal
After at least 5 prison camps he was liberated at the conclusion of the European Theatre and married our mother Alice Elizabeth, had two sons and bought a home in Somerville, NJ when it was still rural. We grew up playing in the fields streams and farm ponds along the Raritan River. He made that possible, made sure we went to the best schools, a Catholic school education, Immaculate Conception grammar school and Immaculata HS. We went there despite its expense. He worked three jobs to provide everything we needed, never missed a day of work, found time to be part of raising us, was always faithful to his wife and family, made sure we could get a college education. He was always there when mom was critically ill, being patient, caring and loving. He was a pillar of dependability. He set the highest of standards along with my mother and made sure we walked a straight line.
He is predeceased by his wife Alice of 56 years, his siblings, Joseph, Frank, Matilda, Helen, Josephine and Ann and his grandsons, Padraic and Thomas.
He is survived by his two sons, John and Tom and their wives Barbara and Kathy, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He lived independently at home. He took care of his house, garden, property till he needed the families’ help in maintaining the property. There are no half -mast flags for him or parades. He never talked of the war unless you dug deep with questions and that wasn't until recently. He was always a soldier, a husband a father, grandfather and great grandfather he was our hero our pillar of strength.
He worked for Singer Manufacturing Company as a machinist until its close at Elizabeth Port. He was a member of the American Legion Post 12 for over 50 years, there he served in the ‘Honor Guard’ until he was no longer able to. He was just recently honored as the Parade Marshall at a Memorial Day celebration. A high light in his life, as one of the military, was to Lay a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. He was of the Greatest Generation and we will pray for and miss him.
Visiting hours on Sunday November 4 from 2-5pm at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday November 5 at 10am at the Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville. Interment is scheduled for Wednesday November 7 at Brigadier General Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown NJ at 12:30pm.