JOSEPH J. STAUDINGER

Joseph Staudinger October 29, 1927 – August 24, 2015 (87 years old) Joseph passed peacefully in the loving company of his wife, Karen. He attended Lodi HS in the 1940’s where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. In baseball, he earned All-County and All-State honors and was invited to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was in high school that he met his future wife, Karen Wiarda. Joe went on to attend Muhlenberg College where his outstanding athletic successes continued. At Muhlenberg, he played forward on the League Championship basketball team and was honored to have played in the National Invitational Tournament in Madison Square Garden – the commemorative photograph remained proudly displayed on his wall. He was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at both Elmwood Park and Muhlenberg. He became an avid golfer and enjoyed sharing his love of athletics with his children and grandchildren. Joe’s college years were interrupted by the draft. He served in the Navy from May 1946 through April 1947 on the USS Thomas Fraser during World War II and earned a victory medal and honorable discharge. As a bonus, his Naval service included playing football for the Bainbridge Naval Training Center team. On May 8, 1949 he married, and after a brief residence in Dearborn, Michigan Joseph and Karen raised their five children in Elmwood Park with summers spent in Green Pond. After retiring from Federal Paper Board, Green Pond became their permanent residence with winters spent in Melbourne Beach, Florida. An active member of his community, Joseph was a member of the Elmwood Park Board of Education and the Green Pond Corporation Board of Directors. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Karen Staudinger and five children: Linda Kay, Tabernacle, and her husband Bud; Joanne Fantry, West Milford, and her husband George; Nancy Sliker, Hamilton, and her husband Glenn; Kenneth Staudinger, North Canton, Ohio and his wife Christine; Kristen Silvestri, Newfoundland, and her husband Mark. 14 grandchildren: Lindsay Kay Solensky, Thomas and Christopher Kay; Michael and Rebecca Fantry; Jessica, Jaime, and Timothy Sliker; KellyAnn Staudinger Butterworth, Kenneth and Matthew Staudinger; Steven, Sarah, and Kyle Silvestri; and 7.5 great grandchildren: Ava, Mia, Andrew, Olivia, McKenna, Shane, Madelyn, and baby Butterworth. He truly was Karen’s “Mr. Wonderful” and showed his love and admiration for his grandchildren by making each of them feel like they were his favorite. He always reminded them to stay focused on their goals: “keep your eye on the donut, not on the hole” and “you can’t soar like an eagle if you’re surrounded by turkeys”. A Memorial Service will be held at the Green Pond Chapel, Notch Road, Green Pond, Newfoundland, NJ at 3:00 PM, Saturday, August 29th. In lieu of flowers donations in Joseph’s honor can be made to the Green Pond Environmental Foundation, PO Box 648, Newfoundland, NJ 07435 or the Green Pond First Aid Squad, PO Box 251, Newfoundland, NJ 07435.

JOSEPH J. STAUDINGER

October 29, 1927 - August 24, 2015