Joseph Patrick Sheffel Jr., age 90, a long-term resident of Wyckoff, New Jersey and, more recently, living in Englewood, Florida, passed away on Wednesday June 26, 2019. He was born February 23, 1929 in Suffern, New York to the late Joseph Patrick Sheffel, Sr. and Mabel Grace (Burdef) Sheffel. Joseph grew up in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. He graduated from Ramsey High School then moved to Wyckoff, New Jersey where he lived for the majority of his life. He attended Rutgers University, and was briefly employed at Midland Park Lumber Company before enlisting in the Marine Corps.
Joseph served from 1950 to 1953 rising to the rank of Sergeant. He fought in the Korean War and led his infantry company in combat while wounded, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. At the time he received his Bronze Star the Wyckoff News reported: “Fighting as a squad leader with the 7th Regiment of the famed First Marine Division, Sergeant Sheffel was wounded on June 23, 1952 during a marine attack on North Korean positions and again less than 2 months later during the action at “Bunker Hill” that led to his citation for bravery. ‘Serving as squad leader, Sergeant Sheffel displayed outstanding courage and leadership when his unit was engaged in defense of a strategically important hill position’ noted the citation. ‘Although painfully wounded, he refused evacuation and continued to direct and inspire his men.’ According to his citation, ‘with no concern for his personal safety he constantly exposed himself to intense enemy mortar and artillery fire making checks of his sector and instilling confidence in the members of his squad. During the hours of darkness when a fanatical enemy force repeatedly assaulted the position, he fearlessly directed the fire of his squad inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy’.” His Bronze Star was awarded by Major General Randall McCall Pate, commanding general Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. Following his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1953, Joseph returned to employment with Midland Park Lumber Company where he remained until retirement.
Joseph was a member of the Midland Park Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion. He was also active in a number of organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW, Midland Park, NJ), Disabled American Veterans (DAV, Port Charlotte, FL), Wyckoff Ambulance Corps and Bergen County Mounted Sheriff’s Association. He was an avid hunter and horseman, and enjoyed traveling.
He is survived by his loving daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Farin, Theresa Ann Rapp, Joanne Amelia Tidwell, Patricia Josephine Cundari (Mitchell), Linda Joyce Sheffel (Frank Begnoche) and Deborah Jean Kicinski (Richard); 12 cherished grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Joseph is also survived by Joanne Amelia Sheffel, mother of his children as well as Helen Wikoff, his lifelong friend, and her two sons. He is preceded in death by his daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Grace and Nick Vander Wall; son-in-law, Peter Farin; son-in-law, James Rapp Sr; grandson, Joseph DeGraw, and sister, Anne Whitley.
A funeral service will begin at 4 pm on Friday, July 26, 2019 at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave., Sarasota, FL 34232. A memorial service will also be held at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Wyckoff, NJ on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 11 am. Graveside service with Military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at 10 am on Thursday, September 19, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256, www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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Wounded Warrior Project4899 Belfort Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32256
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