Obituary of John Gerard Washkwich Jr.

John Washkwich Jr., 72, of Washington, New Jersey passed away at his home on December 12, 2023. John was born on March 19^th, 1951 in Plainfield, New Jersey to the late Sylvia and John Washkwich Sr. John was raised in Dunellen, New Jersey and graduated from Dunellen High School class of 1969. In 1971 John was drafted into the Navy and proudly served his country earning the rank of Aviation Support Equipment Technician Mechanical Petty Officer 3^rd Class before his honorable discharge in 1972, where he remained in the Naval Reserves for four more years. John was married to Helen Klein and together they raised a daughter, their pride and joy Erica Washkwich. John worked for many years at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club starting out as a groundskeeper and working his way up to grounds manager before retiring.

John was a fun loving man with an abundant sense of humor and truly loved to enjoy life. A loving father, John cherished nothing more than raising his daughter and imparting all of the knowledge he had to her. John also went back to school and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University all while working and raising a family. John was a mechanic and enjoyed working on cars so it should come as no surprise that he enjoyed NASCAR and watching the NHRA, of course with the volume as loud as it could go. John also enjoyed simply hanging out with family and friends and, “Having a Bud with the boys.” Even after he retired from the country club he couldn’t sit idle and took up a job delivering car parts for Advance Auto and loved going to all of the garages and made friends everywhere he went.

John is survived by his beloved daughter Erica Washkwich, Sisters: Sandra Calhoun, Jacque Washkwich, and Cynthia Washkwich, as well as many Nieces and Nephews.

John is predeceased by his parents Sylvia Washkwich and John Washkwich Sr., and by his brother and best friend Victor Washkwich.

Friends and family may gather for a memorial visitation on Friday December 22^nd, 2023 from 9am until 10am at Knoll-DeVoe Funeral Home and Cremation Service located at 142 West Washington Avenue, Washington, New Jersey, 07882. At 10am following the Visitation a Catholic Prayer Service will be held at the funeral home. John will be laid to rest in the Washington Crossing National Cemetery following the Service at 11:30am on December 22^nd, 2023. Washington Crossing National Cemetery is located at 830 Newtown Road, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 18940.