John K. Jurek

May 2, 1929 - March 7, 2012

CHICOPEE--John K. Jurek, 82, a lifelong resident of Chicopee, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at Heritage Hall East. Born on May 2, 1929, son of the late John and Josephine (Kolenda) Jurek, he was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Church. John was a graduate of Chicopee High School, Class of 1947, and played for three seasons on the varsity football team. He also played semi-professional football for the Tigers A.C. and the Chicopee Braves. John graduated from the Chicago Industrial Training Institute for studies in heating, air-conditioning, drafting and field engineering, and from Wentworth Institute in Boston for industrial power training. John was a US Army veteran of the Korean War and served his country as a medical technician at Osaka Army Hospital. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He retired from Chicopee Electric Light after thirty-six years of service. John was predeceased in 2007 by his beloved wife of fifty-one years, Jean (Gallagher) Jurek. John is survived by three loving daughters, Mary Jane Coffey and her husband Michael of Westfield, Ann Marie Quental and her husband Christopher of Bolton, CT, and Carol J. Robillard and her husband Michael of Shrewsbury; five cherished grandchildren, Liam and Moirean Coffey, Alexandra Quental, and Nicholas and Zachary Robillard; and his sister, Justine Jurek of Chicopee. He was predeceased by his sisters, Irene Jurek and Albina Okscin. Funeral services for John will be held Saturday at 9AM from the Kozikowski Funeral Home, 565 Front St., Chicopee, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10AM in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 56 St. Anthony St., Chicopee. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday from 4-7 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Tribute Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.