John Szieder

October 25, 1920 - July 12, 2014

John Szieder, 93, of Garfield, passed away peacefully with his family present, on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Born in Passaic, he's lived in Garfield most of his life. John was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps serving in WW II, John and his beloved wife, Paula (Wroblevski), were married shortly after he was released from the U.S. Marine Corps, and have remained married for 67 years. As a returning struggling veteran, John worked 6-7 days a week, starting as a grocery clerk, then at a slaughter house, while sharing time on weekends between a produce stand, a dairy stand, and helping his brother-in-law Tom Hilt, Sr., at his gas station in Rutherford. John ultimately took a position with the Ford Motor Company in Mahwah, as a Production Line Repairman, for over 25 years, retiring in 1978 when the plant closed. Home for the last 45 years has been spent on Union Avenue in Garfield, sitting on the front porch, with his wife Paula, visiting with passing neighbors and enjoying the company of the many children that were drawn to the porch by the many family cats. The children were always welcome as John had a talent for teaching spelling and arithmetic, and they came to rely on him to help with their school work. The time teaching these children was repaid with entertainment as John played an old guitar, and the children were required to sing or dance at the completion of their lessons which brought much laughter and memories to both the children and John, and his wife Paula. In many cases these children have returned to visit long after they have moved from the neighborhood to re-live those good times. John was the devoted father of John G. Szieder, and his wife Dorthea, of Downers Grove, IL, and Paulette Szieder-White of Garfield, loving grandfather of Maile White, Starr Kennelly, and great-grandchildren Joe Kimo and Kiana Patricia, dear brother of the late Greorge and Frank Szieder, and Eva Hilt. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38105, in memory of John Szieder, would be appreciated