Obituary of John G. Kaplan

John G. Kaplan "Loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather" South Plainfield - John G. Kaplan, 90, died on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at home. Born in Bayonne to Stanley and Caroline Kaplan on August 16, 1916, John settled in South Plainfield in 1923 with his parents and sisters. Mr. Kaplan served with the Army Engineers during WWII from 1941-1945. During that time he was stationed in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and the Philippines; on the Island of Luson. During the Great Depression he served in the CCC's in Florida, and in 1972, Mr. Kaplan retired from General Motors in Linden, where he worked for 35 years. A long time communicant of Sacred Heart RC Church in South Plainfield, John served as an usher for many years. He is a 3rd Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6203 in South Plainfield and a 4th Degree member of the Charles P. Greco Assembly of the Knights of Columbus of South Plainfield. John is also a member of the South Plainfield American Legion Chaumont Post 243 and a former member of the South Plainfield VFW post 6763. An avid gardener, Mr. Kaplan loved the outdoors and working with his hands. He enjoyed drawing, woodworking, and reading. While his grandchildren were growing up, John was active in their participation within the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club. He also assisted in forming and coaching one of the 1st baseball teams of the South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club. He is pre-deceased by two sisters; Stella Prehodka and Pauline Scanzo, two brothers Edward and Stanley, and by two nieces and two nephews. Surviving is his wife of 65 years Elizabeth (nee Szucs) whom he met in October of 1938 while working at Cornell Dubelier in South Plainfield. Before they were married on Christmas Day of 1941, John and Elizabeth went steady until WWII interrupted their romance. In addition to his wife, surviving are his daughter Elizabeth Cacciatore and her husband John of South Plainfield, his son John and his wife Susan of North Carolina, two sisters; Mary Gibney of Mountainside and Julia Diana of Metuchen, and a brother Zigmund and his wife Dolores of Oklahoma. Also surviving are his eight grandchildren; Dana, John, Michael, Tommy, David, Brian, Christopher, and Devin. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 9:15 AM in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue,South Plainfield followed by a 10:00 AM funeral mass at Sacred Heart RC Church, South Plainfield. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Burial Park Mausoleum, Piscataway. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 22, 2007 from 2-4 & 7-9pm in the funeral home. ">