Gustave “Jack” Jurgens

Gustave John Jurgens “Jack”, age 89, of Lyndhurst, passed away peacefully into the presence of the Lord, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

Jack was born in his grandparent’s home which was located at 432 Ridge Road in North Arlington. The older brother of Margaret “Margie”, the family later moved to 374 Delawanna Ave., Clifton where Jack spent his formative years.

On February 1, 1950, Jack enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served on the 93rd Field Maintenance Squadron as an Airman First Class during peacetime in England and at the Castle Air Force Base in California. On January 31, 1954, he was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life. For his service to his country, Jack was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Jack met his first wife Grace Pugh and, after marriage, they moved to Trimble Avenue in Clifton where they were blessed with three beautiful children: Debra, Guy and Bret. Jack was always mechanically inclined and he ultimately settled into a career as an auto body mechanic – a profession where there would always be plenty of work. In June, 1971, he remarried, this time to Pauline Burgess (nee Langevin). Initially, they moved to Bear Mountain, NY then after some time they settled in at 432 Ridge Road, North Arlington. It was during this stage of life that Jack ventured to work for himself. He started doing auto body work out of his grandmother’s garage in North Arlington. Business was good and eventually they expanded the business and he and Pauline opened their own auto body shop on New Jersey Ave. in Lyndhurst which they aptly named PJ’s Auto Body – the P for Pauline and the J for Jack. With Jack’s talents and Pauline working as his office manager and bookkeeper, PJ’s Auto Body enjoyed much success as Jack worked to restore his customer’s cars to their original luster into the 1980’s when health issues forced him to retire.

Jack was a doer and a man of many gifts and talents. He took up painting on canvas as a hobby and, over the years, he painted many landscapes, abstracts, and portraits. He was a self-taught piano player who could play many styles of music and he played a little bit of guitar too. He had a full wood shop in his basement. Jack would venture around town in his station wagon and bring back all kinds of broken and rejected furniture to his wood working shop where he enjoyed bringing the pieces back to their original luster and functionality. He was an avid fisherman who actually made his own lures – some of them out of the fur from the tails of unfortunate squirrels that he’d find on the road, surely a victim of trying to outdo a car.  Jack had his own sailboat too, and he’d often take it down to South Jersey for a day of sailing. He loved inviting friends and family to sail on his boat with him. In later years, Jack and Pauline got the chance to do some traveling together. They enjoyed trips to Jamaica, Canada, Florida to see family, New England where Pauline was originally from, and a cross-country trip to California to see family.

Jack's faith in God was foundational to his life. He came to know the Lord as his Savior through his Grandma Wilkins. For many years, he and Pauline were members of the Nazarene Church in Clifton and presently with the Gospel Hall in Midland Park. Jack loved the Lord and shared the love of Christ wherever he went. He always had some gospel tracts with him which he freely shared with anyone who was interested and he regularly left them in restaurants or wherever else someone might see one with the hope and prayer that they would be ministered to in a special way.  

Jack was the beloved husband of Pauline Burgess Jurgens (nee Langevin), loving father of Debra J. Giuffrida of Henderson, NV, Guy Edwin Jurgens and wife Jeanne of Roseville, CA, and the late Bret Jurgens; dear brother of Margaret “Margie” Porfido of Wanaque N.J.; cherished grandfather of Teresa and Scott Jurgens; adoring great-grandfather of Vincent and Jayden; loving step-father of Bruce Burgess and wife Sue of North Haledon; cherished step-grandfather of: David and his wife Ruth and Kristin; adoring step-great-grandfather of: Desiree, Nicholas, Gianna, and Arianna; dear cousin of Robert Muller and wife Sunny and James Muller and wife Til who predeceased James; also cousin of Joy, Richard, and Margaret (Midge) Jurgens. Jack was also predeceased by his father Gustave Edwin Jurgens, his mother Margaret Jurgens Kist (Steup), his father’s siblings Harry Jurgens and wife Margaret, Helen Jurgens Muller and husband Al, and his cousin Jean Muller Marshall and her husband Peter.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gustave’s name are asked to consider Samaritan's Purse PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607.

You can also donate online on a special “Memorial Giving” page that has been set up for Gustave doing the following:

Click on this link:  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Click on the orange “Give” link at the top right portion of the webpage.

Click on “Memorial Giving”

Scroll down and click on “Donate on a Memorial Page”

Type in Gustave’s name in the box that pops up

Select Gustave’s name when it pops up

You will see the obituary. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and follow the rest of the prompts.

Thank you for your donation to a worthy cause that was dear to Jack’s heart!