Joseph E. Kudej

GRISWOLD - Joseph Edward Kudej, 88, of Walter Drive, Griswold, passed away peacefully at Backus Hospital in Norwich on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. He was the husband of Lillian Gensicki Kudej.

Mr. Kudej was born in Colchester, June 21, 1921, a son of the late George and Sophie Opalinski Kudej. Mr. Kudej proudly served his country during World War II in Northern France and the Rhineland in Central Europe. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the Theatre Campaign Ribbon. He was employed by Allegheny Steel in Wallingford for several years until his retirement.

Besides his wife, he leaves his three daughters, Elaine Myers, of Wallingford, Diane Wishnafski and her husband, Paul, of Columbia, and Patricia Muller, of Colorado. He is the grandfather of Kelly Mikulski, of Wallingford; and great-grandfather of Evan and Meghan Mikulski. He is the brother of Bronislaw Kudej, in Poland and the late, Stanley Kudej.

His funeral will leave the Lupinski Funeral Home, 821 State St., Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial in St. Stanislaus Church, at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in All Saints Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m., prior to services. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association of CT, 45 Ash St., East Hartford, 06108-3272 of to the CT Dept of Veterans Affairs Memorial Fund, 287 West St., Rocky Hill, 06067. Sign Joseph's guestbook at lupinskifuneralhome.com.