Joseph R. Kaczowski, 84, of Colonia, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Born in Elizabeth, he resided in Colonia since 1963. As a child he attended St. Adalbert’s grammar school, Cleveland High and completed high school at Thomas Jefferson. After high school, Joseph played semi-professional football for Linden AC. Mr. Kaczowski entered the Naval Reserves while studying at DeVry Technical Institute specializing in Electronics. In 1958 he was recruited and enlisted in the army and served for two years in Alaska. He completed training in the USA Ordinance Guided Missile School and worked on the internal guidance system for the Nike Hercules missile. In 1960, he married the love of his life, Barbara Krok. They had two children, Pamela and Kevin. In 1997 he retired from the Schiavone-Bonomo Corp. in Jersey City after working there for 9 years. Prior to that, he was employed by Elastic Stop Nut (ESNA) in Union for 39 years. Joseph was a member of St. Adalbert's RC Church 49er Club, an ASA softball umpire and life member of NJ Federation of Umpires, a life member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6571 of Colonia, and a Pro-Life Ministry member at St. John Vianney Church of Colonia. He was a volunteer baseball and basketball coach at Merrill Park and also volunteered at the Clara Barton Library in Edison, assisting senior citizens with their income taxes. Mr. Kaczowski was a communicant of St. John Vianney RC Church of Colonia, where he served as an usher and volunteered at the annual fair. Joseph was the beloved husband of the late Barbara A. (Krok) Kaczowski, devoted father of Pamela Hughes and her husband Joseph, and Kevin Kaczowski, whose children, Rebecca, Joseph and Kayla he cherished. He was also a loving brother of Teofila Smolen, Helen Kaczowski, Alfreda Christian, the late Sigmund Kaczowski, Gladys Bagan, Beatrice Kaczowski, Mary Baszak, Michael Kaczowski and Walter Kaczowski. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 9:00 am from Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home. Funeral mass at St. John Vianney RC Church, Colonia 10:45 am, followed by an entombment at St. Gertrude Cemetery. Visiting will be at Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home on Monday, December 9 from 5:00pm to 9:00 pm.
