Joseph Owsianik

(Courier News)

JOSEPH OWSIANIK
AGE: 86
SOUTH PLAINFIELD
Joseph Owsianik, 86, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 at the VA Hospital (Lyons) in Basking Ridge, NJ. He was born on May 3, 1924 in New Brunswick, NJ to Paul Owsianik and Mary (Locke) Owsianik. He was a lifetime resident of South Plainfield. Joseph was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps. where he proudly served his country during World War II. While obtaining the rank of Staff Sargent in the 15th Air Force, he received the Purple Heart medal for wounds encountered after being shot down in the B-17 aircraft he was flying over Czechoslovakia. The story of his war experiences were written in a book, Mighty By Sacrifice and Mission 263. Joseph was a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft IV (Germany) for nine months. He was an active member of the Ex-Prisoner of War, Military Order of the Purple Heart and a member of the DAV.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty six years, Josephine (Kosky) and by two daughters, Belinda and Fred Rudzik of Tallahassee FL and Rev. Robert and Nancy Graham of Shippenville, PA, along with his grandchildren, Jennifer (Joe) Sharpe, Nicholas Mevoli, Kristine Rudzik, Katherine Rudzik, Laurie (Matthew) Buzzard and Scott Simpson and fiance, Shelby Shultz. He also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Riley and Josi Buzzard and Elizabeth Sharpe, who he adored and loved spending his time with. He is also survived by his sister, Theresa Miller of Nashua, NH and a brother, Victor Owsianik of South Plainfield, NJ, along with several nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his dear friends of the Czech Republic, Roman Susil, Anton Bonko, Jana Turcinkova and Mayor George Gavlis. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Anna Bori, Sophie Smith, Mary Sexton, Olga Schenck and Pauline Prehodka. Joseph was passionate about his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also taught his family how to master the mechanics of fixing things, but will be remembered lovingly for his jury-rigging and liberal use of duct tape and staples. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, creating original stained glass ornaments, building model airplanes and spending time on his computer.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 beginning at 10:30am in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 (www.mccriskinfuneralhome.com) followed by burial in Hillside Cemetery located in Scotch Plains. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday, November 5, 2010 from 2-4 & 6-8pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association or to the Alzheimer's Association.