Michael Mushak, 94, of Groveville, NJ, entered heaven on June 23, 2021 at his home surrounded by family. He was born and raised in Dunmore, PA, the third of seven sons of Stephan and Mary Lukacs Mushak. Michael joined the US Navy as a teenager following his older brothers into service during World War II.
After the war, he settled in Trenton, NJ, where he married Margaret (Marge) Olex whom he met at a polka dance, bought his first house in Groveville, and raised his family of five children. He worked in the pottery industry most of his life beginning in 1947 at Crane Company and retired as a general foreman and kiln expert from American Standard in 1989.
Born and raised in the Greek Orthodox church, he became a Roman Catholic after marrying and faithfully attended mass with his family at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Yardville. He served as a board member for the Holy Name Society and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Running the Bingos was also big on his volunteer list. After their daughter Susan's car accident in 1975 which left her disabled, Mike and Marge focused their service on the community of people with disabilities. For many years, with his wife's support, he served on the boards of NRCPL (Nottingham Recreation for the Physically Limited) and Project Freedom. For his exemplary volunteer service, he received the Jefferson Award in 2003 and with his wife, the Project Freedom June Ronan Angel Award in 2006.
Mike enjoyed classical music, dancing the polka with his wife, road trips, many annual Jersey shore vacations with family, Project Freedom bike tours, and being with family especially his brothers. He was good at fixing things and solving problems.
Mike was a quiet, gentle, patient, honest, hardworking, and faithful man. His integrity and devoted service to God, family, and community is his legacy.
For 65 years, he was a loving husband to Marge who predeceased him in 2017. Two children also predeceased him: Paul in 2006 and Susan in 2018, as well as all his brothers and wife's siblings. He is survived by three of his children: Carol Lysak (Michael) of Trenton, Mary Ellen Kmenta (James) of Cream Ridge, Michael Mushak (David Westmoreland) of Norwalk, CT., five grandchildren: Jamie McIntire, Ken White (Nina), Natasha Mason (David), Katya Lysak (Andrew Mishalove), Alexandra Lysak, five great-grandchildren: Justin, Jordan, Asher, Gabriel, Cameron, several sister-in laws and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial mass will be held on Friday, August 6 at 11am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 555 Yardville-Allentown Rd, Yardville, NJ, 08620, followed by a brief military ceremony at the church. Donations may be made in Michael's memory to Project Freedom (projectfreedom.org) or the St Vincent de Paul Society - Yardville Conference which may be sent to church address above.
Assisted by Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown, NJ
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