Obituary of Joseph Michael Marhefka Jr.

Joseph M. Marhefka, Jr. Passed away at his home in Rockaway Twp., NJ on December 30th 2024. Joe was born in East Vandergrift, PA.   As a young boy, he traveled many times with his family to their home in Relov, Czechoslovakia.  At age 11, his family returned to the U.S. permanently and lived in Montville and then Boonton, NJ.  Joe enlisted in the US Army and served from 1946-1949 in the military police.  While stationed in Rome, Italy, he graduated from NCO school. After his discharge from the Army, Joe completed his high school education and graduated from Boonton High School and then Northeast Technical School.  He worked at Aircraft Radio Corporation and Singer-Kearfott as a design draftsman as well as owning and operating a Carvel Store for many years with his wife Janet in Haskell NJ  

Joe and his wife loved traveling. He traveled to Europe, with Janet and family to visit his childhood home in Relov, Slovakia. They also went on many wonderful cruises. 

Joe was a member of Walter J. Barrett, Knights of Columbus Boonton, VFW Post #242, Denville American Legion Post 0390, Fox Hills Men’s Club. He was also a past member of the Boonton Township and Boonton Fire Departments. 

He and his wife Janet lived in Boonton Township and then Boonton, NJ where they raised their 3 children. In 2001, they moved to Rockaway Twp., NJ. 

Survived by his Beloved wife Janet (McCormick), Loving Children, Karen Pineda, Michele Petonak (Michael), Kenneth Marhefka (Amy) and 9 cherished grandchildren, Mark Gallagher, Lisa Roll, Michael Petonak Jr, Christopher Petonak (Jessica), Nick Petonak (Michele- partner)  & Stephen Petonak (Catherine), Kyle Marhefka (Lea), Kevin Marhefka (Morgan), Ali Levenson (Connor), 13 Loving great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law’s Mary Marhefka, Meg McCormick, and Ruth McCormick. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph M. Marhefka, Sr. and Mary (Martancik), brother Andrew Marhefka, sisters, Elona Zabriskie, Josephine Kuchta, Marie Hanke, and Elza Kovarik. 

Mass will take place at St Catherine of Sienna Church, Mountain Lakes NJ on Monday Jan 6th 2025 at 10:00 AM, Burial of the cremains will tale place at at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Cemetary in Boonton at a later date.   

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers, St Jude, or a charity of your choice.