Obituary of Joseph C. Czech, Sr.
Joseph C Czech, Sr. of South Plainfield, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the age of 68, after a 17-year valiant battle with cancer. Joseph was born on February 3, 1956, in Flushing NY. Shortly thereafter, he became a lifelong resident of Edison, NJ until 2004, when he moved to South Plainfield, NJ.
He attended St Francis grade school in Metuchen and graduated St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison. He was enthusiastic and most energized while playing football as Number 54 Center position for the STA Trojans Following high school, Joseph promptly enlisted in the Navy Seabees, NMCB 133rd Special Construction Battalion where he was assigned to construct the airfield strip in Diego Garcia, of which he was most proud. During his service he received a commendation for saving a fellow shipmate who collapsed during training and resuscitated him. The skills he learned led to his future in construction as a heavy equipment operator and excavator following his honorable discharge.
Joe also had a passion for the fire service. He was an auxiliary firefighter in Newark NJ, a volunteer firefighter for Colonia Fire Department, and served Oak Tree Fire Department for 20 years prior to his dream of becoming a Career Firefighter with the Edison Fire Department in 1992. He couldn’t wait to get to work and had an incredible bond with all his fellow firefighters and his superiors. He was chief cook and joke master, making every shift a memorable one. The only thing he loved more was coming home to his wife after a shift. Whether it was fires big or small, Durham Woods explosion or a trash can fire, he loved them all!
When not fighting fires, he enjoyed fluke fishing and boating which prompted him to obtain his Captains Six Pack License. He spent many a day on party boats; and his own pride and joy – “Latitudes” his Boston Whaler. Ah the stories he could tell. He and his dear friend Uncle Leo would smoke their cigars and enjoy being on the water.
He married his soulmate Debra (Wall) Czech on August 20th, 1994, on the Sandy Hook Lady as they both enjoyed the ocean. Ironically, they shared the same birthday (different years) and Joe would joke that he “robbed the cradle” and Debbie “robbed the grave”. Together they loved the shore, road trips, AC, making their home and yard beautiful, intimate dinners at their favorite restaurants - but mostly enjoyed sitting next to each other chatting, joke telling and watching TV with their fur babies Angel and Smokey.
A parent’s greatest achievement is the birth of a child - his son Joseph Czech, Jr. Together they shared a love of service to their community, family, sharing the same sense of humor/stories and love of life. Joe Jr and his wife Jennifer gave him the most beautiful grandchildren, Brayden, and Gabriella. Through Joe’s cancer journey, he never thought he would ever see grandchildren in his lifetime. Brayden is a true “chip off the old Czech block” and Gabi is his love bug.
He was a lifelong member of the International Association Fire Fighters (IAFF) #1197, the Edison Township Firemen’s Relief Association (ETFRA), the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association (NJSFA) a life member of the South Plainfield Elks #2298 and the American Legion Chaumont Post #243. Joe was loved by many – you could walk anywhere - into Home Depot or any town - and someone would call out “hey Joe Czech or Yosh” (as he was fondly called). Joe had no regrets in life. His life was well-loved and was a good, kind man who was admired and loved by all. Joseph is predeceased by his loving parents Walter and Stella Czech. An amazing husband, father, and grandfather, he is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 29 years Debra, his son and daughter in law Joseph Czech Jr and Jennifer, grandchildren Brayden and Gabriella, sister Anastasia Czech and niece Kristin Kuhn, sister-in-law Danielle Wall, as well as extended family and his fur babies Angel and Smokey.
A gathering honoring his life will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 from 3pm until 8pm, with services beginning at 6pm.
Family and friends may gather directly to Sacred Heart Church, 149 South Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Friday, June 14, 2024 for a 10:00am funeral mass. Mausoleum entombment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edison Animal Shelter, 125 Municipal Blvd, Edison, NJ 08817, or Prostate Foundation, 1250 Fourth St, Santa Monica, CA 90401.