John P. Konczyk's Obituary
John Paul Konczyk
Age 82 - Raritan, NJ
Johnny was born June 26, 1930 in Bound Brook, NJ. One of four brothers, he attended St. Mary's Polish Catholic grade school, and Bound Brook high school.
John worked at American Cyanamid for a few months before deciding he hated factory work, and snuck away during his lunch break to sign up for Military Service in September of 1948.
In the Navy, John spent time on the USS Kearsarge, the USS Piedmont (a.k.a. "Doc"), and the USS Dixie during the Korean war. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, Naval Occupations Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. He received an Honorable Discharge four years later as Machinist Mate Class A, and returned home to New Jersey. In later years, Johnny captivated friends and family with colorful accounts of travelling in and around Korea, Okinawa, and different ports in the west coast of the United States. His stories included nighttime mine sweeps in a Pontoon boat with nothing more than a rifle and flashlight, guarding supply lines in godforsaken jungles as the enemy stared him down, and once flying home on leave in the Cargo Hold of a Military airplane during horrific weather - eventually wearing his lunch on his shirt. His tales brought laughter and cheer to everyone. John married wife Shirley in 1958 after meeting at a dance class. They couple had one daughter, Marjanna, in 1965. The family settled first in Bound Brook, NJ, and later in Raritan. Johnny began his career at Rutgers College of Engineering as a machinist, moving on to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey until his retirement in 1993. He gushed about working with professors and students on various projects, helping create and innovate complex tools used in research and healthcare. He absolutely loved his job, and routinely arrived an hour or more early to get a jump on the day's projects. An avid Rutgers football fan, Johnny and Shirley attended most games both home and away for many years. Johnny's continual wish is that the Scarlet Knights have an undefeated season. Johnny is pre-deceased by wife Shirley, and brothers Cashmir and Stanley. He is survived by brother Al of Nazareth, PA, and Goddaughter/niece Barbara Goldschmidt of Philipsburg, NJ. Johnny also leaves behind several nieces and nephews (which he doted over, and wrote to often), his loving daughter Marjanna (a Rutgers alumni), and favorite son-in-law, Jack.
After Shirley's passing in 2008, Johnny moved to Douglasville, GA, and eventually into Marjanna and Jack's home. Johnny was delighted with DirecTV's college football package, and continued rooting for Rutgers until his passing. Johnny embodied a real American Patriot, believing our country affords every hard-working person with limitless opportunity. In lieu of flowers, Johnny urges everyone to vote Romney-Ryan in the upcoming election, and donate to the Wounded Warrior Project to support our troops (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). Services will be held at Doyle Memorial Cemetery in the Spring of 2013.
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