Jerry S. Wikiel

Jerry S. Wikiel, 90, of Paterson, passed on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Jerry was born in Hryniacze, Poland, and at 5 years old, was on the first transport to Siberia with his family during World War II. In 1942, they made their way through Persia and India, settling in Tanzania, Africa. They lived in a Polish refugee camp called Tengeru. In 1947, Jerry and his family boarded a boat and made their way to England where they lived for 8 years. In 1955, they emigrated to the United States, living in Wallington, then Passaic and Clifton before settling in Paterson in 1998. Jerry was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving our country during the Korean War. In 1961, while living in Passaic, Jerry opened TW Machine Co. He worked his business for 48 years, retiring in 2009. Jerry was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church in Garfield. He was an active member of the Stowarzyszenie Weteranów Armii Polskiej w Ameryce, (SWAP) Post 51 in Jersey City, and the Wisla Club in Garfield. Jerry’s passions in life included sharing rich history lessons, building, gardening, tinkering around the house and coming up with innovative ideas and solutions for obstacles that he encountered. His calm demeanor, easy going spirit and great sense of humor was admired by all who encountered him. He had a love of travel, taking many pilgrimages throughout the years and most of all, he was a very devout Catholic who cherished praying the rosary. Jerry was the beloved husband of Anna Wikiel (nee Bochenek), the dear father of Kristina Botta and her husband, Steve, Barbara Bermudez and her husband, Robert, Ted Wikiel and his wife, Sheila, Gregory Wikiel and his wife, Tina, and Yolanda Wikiel and her husband, Maurizio Roca, the loving stepfather of Kathy Christie and her husband, Danny and Margie Baranowski, the caring grandfather of Nicholas, Alexander, Samantha and Matthew, Eric, Alex, Jason, Victoria, Amanda, Gregory, Sophie, Julian, the great-grandfather of Arayna and Declan, the brother of the late Celina Krokosz and Jadwiga Wikiel, and the uncle of Kris Krokosz and his wife, Kim, and Tish Krokosz and his wife, Basia. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver 5634 S. 72nd Ct. Summit, IL 60501-1342 https://www.clavermissionarysisters.org/

Jerry S. Wikiel

March 3, 1935 - May 22, 2025