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August 28, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8PM on Friday August 31, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 10AM Saturday at Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Dr East, Wayne. Please meet directly at church.
John “Chick” Choka, age 93 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 28, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.
Chick was born and raised in Jersey City. While growing up and attending Dickenson High School in Jersey City, Chick excelled in Baseball at the position of Catcher. He went on to play for his college team at Jersey City State College.
Following his graduation from high school with the class of 1942, World War II was at its peak. Chick enlisted into the United States Army in 1943. He was assigned to the Harbor Craft Division of the Navy but he was officially Army personnel. Chick served honorably with the United States Army from 1943 until 1946. Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the Army, Chick took advantage of the GI Bill and went to college to further his education. Chick attended Jersey City State College and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education with the class of 1951. Chick then received his Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University in June of 1954.
Chick’s first job was as a teacher at the Roosevelt School where he taught fifth grade. He held that position for about two years then earned another position as a teacher in Cherry Hill School in River Edge. Later in 1957, Chick took over the duties of Teaching Principal of Hollie M. Davis. In 1959 Chick was appointed Principal of Cherry Hill School. Chick would hold this position for the rest of his career until his retirement nearly thirty years ago. Chick was never able to shake the “Baseball Bug” from his youth. He went on to be president of the Wayne Little League, and was active President when they won the Little League World Series in 1970 at Williamsport, PA. One of the fields next to the next to the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne was named after him in his honor, “John Chick Choka Field.”
Chick served as Explorer Advisor for Post 95 with the Explorer Scouts in River Edge. Chick was greatly involved with the Wayne Department of Parks and Recreation for many years. He was a longtime member of the Wayne Elks #2181 as well as a member of the Jersey City AM Vets where he was also past Commander. Chick was a longtime member of Packanack Community Church where he also served on the Christian Education Committee.
As a teenager, Chick could often be found down by the local “swimming hole” near the Hudson River where he grew up. There were many young girls who were attracted to Chick because of his funny and witty personality, and later even more so because he owned a car (a yellow convertible to boot!). But of all the girls that had their eyes on him, Chick asked out an attractive young girl by the name of Luby Halaska. He asked her to go for a ride in his yellow convertible, as fate would have it they fell in love and following Chick’s honorable discharge from the military they were married at St Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church in Jersey City. After getting married, John and Luby settled and stayed in Jersey City and started to raise a family. Their first two children were born there, and in 1959 they family moved to Wayne where their next two children were born. They would call Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together. John and Luby would cherish over 70 years of loving and loyal marriage together.
Chick enjoyed sports, was a New York Yankee fan and had a knack for gardening. Chick was a teacher at heart and loved to participate and volunteer for anything that benefited children. Although, Chick’s greatest passion was for his family, nothing meant more to Chick than providing for and spending time with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Between his volunteer work and his profession, Chick touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.
Chick is survived by his wife Luby (nee Halaska), three sons; Gary and his wife Eileen of Wayne, Wayne and his wife Ann of Andover, and Christopher and his wife Liz of Charlotte, NC, one daughter Claudia Kelly and her husband Kevin of Bradenton, FL, nine grandchildren; Autumn, Christopher, Justin, Shawn, Ryan, Connor, Chasen, Gary, and Melissa. He was predeceased by his brother George Choka and his sister Ann Ellerson.
In lieu of flowers donations in Chick’s name can be made to Wayne Little League, 11 Copley Ct. Wayne, NJ 07470.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8PM on Friday August 31, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 10AM Saturday at Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Dr East, Wayne. Please meet directly at church.
August 28, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8PM on Friday August 31, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 10AM Saturday at Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Dr East, Wayne. Please meet directly at church.
John “Chick” Choka, age 93 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 28, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.
Chick was born and raised in Jersey City. While growing up and attending Dickenson High School in Jersey City, Chick excelled in Baseball at the position of Catcher. He went on to play for his college team at Jersey City State College.
Following his graduation from high school with the class of 1942, World War II was at its peak. Chick enlisted into the United States Army in 1943. He was assigned to the Harbor Craft Division of the Navy but he was officially Army personnel. Chick served honorably with the United States Army from 1943 until 1946. Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the Army, Chick took advantage of the GI Bill and went to college to further his education. Chick attended Jersey City State College and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education with the class of 1951. Chick then received his Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University in June of 1954.
Chick’s first job was as a teacher at the Roosevelt School where he taught fifth grade. He held that position for about two years then earned another position as a teacher in Cherry Hill School in River Edge. Later in 1957, Chick took over the duties of Teaching Principal of Hollie M. Davis. In 1959 Chick was appointed Principal of Cherry Hill School. Chick would hold this position for the rest of his career until his retirement nearly thirty years ago. Chick was never able to shake the “Baseball Bug” from his youth. He went on to be president of the Wayne Little League, and was active President when they won the Little League World Series in 1970 at Williamsport, PA. One of the fields next to the next to the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne was named after him in his honor, “John Chick Choka Field.”
Chick served as Explorer Advisor for Post 95 with the Explorer Scouts in River Edge. Chick was greatly involved with the Wayne Department of Parks and Recreation for many years. He was a longtime member of the Wayne Elks #2181 as well as a member of the Jersey City AM Vets where he was also past Commander. Chick was a longtime member of Packanack Community Church where he also served on the Christian Education Committee.
As a teenager, Chick could often be found down by the local “swimming hole” near the Hudson River where he grew up. There were many young girls who were attracted to Chick because of his funny and witty personality, and later even more so because he owned a car (a yellow convertible to boot!). But of all the girls that had their eyes on him, Chick asked out an attractive young girl by the name of Luby Halaska. He asked her to go for a ride in his yellow convertible, as fate would have it they fell in love and following Chick’s honorable discharge from the military they were married at St Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church in Jersey City. After getting married, John and Luby settled and stayed in Jersey City and started to raise a family. Their first two children were born there, and in 1959 they family moved to Wayne where their next two children were born. They would call Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together. John and Luby would cherish over 70 years of loving and loyal marriage together.
Chick enjoyed sports, was a New York Yankee fan and had a knack for gardening. Chick was a teacher at heart and loved to participate and volunteer for anything that benefited children. Although, Chick’s greatest passion was for his family, nothing meant more to Chick than providing for and spending time with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Between his volunteer work and his profession, Chick touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.
Chick is survived by his wife Luby (nee Halaska), three sons; Gary and his wife Eileen of Wayne, Wayne and his wife Ann of Andover, and Christopher and his wife Liz of Charlotte, NC, one daughter Claudia Kelly and her husband Kevin of Bradenton, FL, nine grandchildren; Autumn, Christopher, Justin, Shawn, Ryan, Connor, Chasen, Gary, and Melissa. He was predeceased by his brother George Choka and his sister Ann Ellerson.
In lieu of flowers donations in Chick’s name can be made to Wayne Little League, 11 Copley Ct. Wayne, NJ 07470.
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