John K. Halupka

John K. Halupka, 80, of Clifton, passed away on November 13, 2025.

John was born in the small village of Frydman in southern Poland. He emigrated to the U.S. with his parents and two younger siblings in 1961 at the age of 15. The family resided in Clifton for five months before settling in Passaic. John attended public school and also took English language classes at night school. At the end of the school year in 1961, John left school to go to work to help his parents pay off debts and help save for the purchase of a family home in Passaic which was bought in 1965. John continued to attend night school to learn English and while there met new friends who introduced him to two local Polish organizations housed in Passaic on Monroe Street, the Wisla Sports Club and ZMP, (Zwiazek Mlodziezy Polskiej). John joined Wisla and became a member of the clubs Division B soccer team, helping the team win many trophies and tournaments. John also joined ZMP and participated in many functions there such as the dance group, small stage acting group and ping pong and volleyball teams.

In 1968 though not a citizen yet, John was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Fort Bliss,Texas for the next 22 months. While there he studied electronics and was being trained to be an antiaircraft artillery mechanic. He received his honorable discharge with the rank of SP-5 on December 11, 1970 and returned home to Passaic.

After the Army, John worked as a machinist for Century Engineering in Clifton. In 1972 he married Krystyna Maciag and they settled in Passaic for a few years before buying a home in Clifton. The family grew to include three children, Diane, Marek and Krzysztof. In 1975 John took advantage of the U.S. G.I. Bill and enrolled in NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) in Newark, NJ. John continued to work full time to support his family and took evening classes in mechanical design. In 1978 he obtained an associate degree as a mechanical designer. Before retiring, John was a draftsman for Peerless Tube in Bloomfield and Garden State Paper Company in Garfield for many years.

During the late 1970's John once again became an active member of the Polish organizations of his youth, Wisla now housed in Garfield, NJ and ZMP, now housed in Wallington. At Wisla John became a delegate to the Minolta Youth Soccer League, representing the Wisla Sports Club's youth Division. John enrolled his young sons in the youth league and in 1981 became coach of the 6-12 year old team. He continued to be a league delegate and coach of the youth teams for over six more years. From 1996-2001 John was on the Board of Directors for the Wisla Corporation. He currently remains a standing member of the Wisla corporations and Vistula Sports Club.

John has been with the Polish People's Home Corporation in Wallington for over 40 years and has been on the Board of Directors for over 35 years. He has served the Polish People's Home Corporation in various positions and in many capacities as: Recording Secretary, Finance Secretary, Vice-President and President. John continues to be an active member or the Polish People's Home Corporation - Cracovia Manor, Wallington, NJ.

John was retired and resided in Clifton with his beloved wife of 53 years, Krystyna. He was proud of his children Diane Wojcik and her husband Janusz, Marek Halupka and his wife Renee and Krzysztof Halupka and his wife Magdalena. John enjoyed spending time with his children and cherish and adore his seven grandchildren, Gabriela, Andrew, Christopher, Amelia, Emma, Edward and Lily. He is the dear brother of Mary Wisniewski and the late Emil Halupka.

Visiting Sunday, November 16, 2025, 2-6 PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. Funeral Monday, November 17, 2025, 8:45 AM at the funeral home and 10 AM at St. Joseph's RC Church, Passaic. Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery, Saddle Brook.