Obituary of John Gurskey
John Gurskey, devoted husband for 56 years to wife Eileen (deceased in 2010), beloved father to Barbara (husband Stephen Belfatti) and Janice (husband Jake Strassburger), and Dziadzi (Grandfather) to Max and Sam Strassburger, passed away at Heritage of Clara Barton just a few weeks short of his 93rd birthday; May 18th, 2023.
Born June 5th, 1930, John was the eldest son of Marie and John Gurski. He is survived by his sister Irene and predeceased by his parents and siblings Marion, Theodore (Teddy), Henry (Hank) and Blanche. Growing up in Weehawken, John excelled in academics and was a star on the Weehawken High School Basketball team. After High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army, was promoted to the Officer Training Corps, and was subsequently stationed in Salzburg, Austria where he played softball for the U.S. Army team. John was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal in 1953.
John and Eileen met early 1954 and were married that October. 5 years later, they moved to their home in Old Bridge which they filled with love, laughter, music and… PARTIES! John loved and was proud of his family, his golf and tennis games, and his home where every spring the trees, bushes, and flowers burst forth with color and life in the beautiful yard under his care.
Following his military service, John was hired by New York Telephone to work in the mail room and attended Seton Hall University at night, graduating with a degree in Marketing. In 1985, at the age of 55, John retired as a Senior Division Manager at NYNEX. Upon retiring, NYNEX asked him to stay on as a consultant to mentor young executives which gave he and Eileen the opportunity to travel the world. John eventually worked as a substitute teacher in the Old Bridge School District where he was loved by faculty, staff, and students alike.
In 1996, John and Eileen moved to the retirement community of Four Seasons in Lakewood. He was a member of the Oceanaire's Barbershop Choir, the Spare Parts Quartet, and could often be found entertaining friends with his beautiful tenor voice. When Eileen was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and suffered a major stroke, John never left her side, caring for her at home as long as possible. Once she was moved to a nursing facility, he spent every day with her, ending each day with a viewing of their favorite show, JEOPARDY!
After Eileen's 2010 passing, John moved to Heritage of Clara Barton Assisted Living (Edison) in 2013 to be closer to his grandsons who he adored. In 2021, John had a fall and became bed bound. Over the next two years his health declined leading to his eventual passing on May 18th, 2023. John Joseph Gurskey, Jr is now at peace and reunited with Eileen, the love of his life.
Visitation will be held at McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 from 5pm-8pm with military honors being held at 7:30pm. On Thursday, May 25, 2023, family and friends may gather to the funeral home beginning 9am followed by a 10:00am funeral mass at Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield. Mausoleum entombment will follow at Mary Queen of Peace Mausoleum located on Massachusetts Avenue in Lakewood.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).