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July 19, 2012
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, July 23, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the Jacksonville Chapel, 264 Jacksonville Road, Lincoln Park.
John A. Skaflestad, age 89, of Wayne, New Jersey, died Thursday, July 19, 2012.
John was born in Flora, Norway in 1923, and at the age of 5, came to the United States with his older brother Trygve and sister Gerda on the Oslofjord. The family settled in downtown Brooklyn, where mother Judith and father Christian managed a boarding house for Norwegian seamen. It was during this time that John's younger brother Ralph was born. Ever the pioneers, John's parents eventually purchased a tavern in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and named it the Leif Erickson. The tavern still exists today.
John graduated from Erasmus High School in Brooklyn in 1942, and soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a signalman aboard the mine sweeper USS Palmer in World War II. Incredibly, John survived two brutal, concurrent attacks at sea — the first when his ship was brought down by Kamikaze pilots in the Liguan Bay on the Pacific, leaving him lost at sea. When his rescue vessel was also bombed and sunk by Kamikaze, the sailor was stranded in the ocean a second time … yet was thankfully recovered. Upon his return home, John received the Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with 2 stars, as well as the Philippine Medal with 2 stars. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on February 25, 1946.
In 1953 John joined the New York City Police Department, and after serving two years as a patrolman, he was accepted to the NYPD Harbor Patrol, a particular dream of his. John loved his life honorably serving New York and sailing the Hudson until he retired from service in 1975. He eventually moved with his family to Wayne, New Jersey, where he lived for over 40 years. John spent the last several years residing in Stuart, Florida.
He was predeceased by his late wife Barbara (nee Pavleca) Skaflestad (May 4, 2012); and sister Gerda Tellefsen. He is survived and loved by his three children: Kristen Pacilio and husband Ronald of Charlotte, North Carolina; Stephen Skaflestad and wife Dorothy of Wall, and Jamie Longo and husband Anthony of Wayne. Cherished grandfather of Marleine Pacilio, Allison Fredricks and her husband Kevin, and Jonathan Pacilio; Dana Hafner and husband Steve of Pequannock, and Kara Skaflestad of Brooklyn, New York. Much loved great grandfather of Taylor and Michael Fredricks; Caroline Hafner. Loved brother of Trygve Skaflestad and his late wife Evelyn (July 6, 2012) of Toms River; Ralph Skaflestad and his wife Lorraine of Commack, Long Island, New York; and brother-in-law Sjur Tellefsen of Fayson Lakes.
John will be remembered as a kind and loyal man with an extraordinary sense of humor, and for his remarkable pride in both his country and Norwegian heritage.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 would be appreciated. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=66
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, July 23, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the Jacksonville Chapel, 264 Jacksonville Road, Lincoln Park.
July 19, 2012
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, July 23, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the Jacksonville Chapel, 264 Jacksonville Road, Lincoln Park.
John A. Skaflestad, age 89, of Wayne, New Jersey, died Thursday, July 19, 2012.
John was born in Flora, Norway in 1923, and at the age of 5, came to the United States with his older brother Trygve and sister Gerda on the Oslofjord. The family settled in downtown Brooklyn, where mother Judith and father Christian managed a boarding house for Norwegian seamen. It was during this time that John's younger brother Ralph was born. Ever the pioneers, John's parents eventually purchased a tavern in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and named it the Leif Erickson. The tavern still exists today.
John graduated from Erasmus High School in Brooklyn in 1942, and soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a signalman aboard the mine sweeper USS Palmer in World War II. Incredibly, John survived two brutal, concurrent attacks at sea — the first when his ship was brought down by Kamikaze pilots in the Liguan Bay on the Pacific, leaving him lost at sea. When his rescue vessel was also bombed and sunk by Kamikaze, the sailor was stranded in the ocean a second time … yet was thankfully recovered. Upon his return home, John received the Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with 2 stars, as well as the Philippine Medal with 2 stars. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on February 25, 1946.
In 1953 John joined the New York City Police Department, and after serving two years as a patrolman, he was accepted to the NYPD Harbor Patrol, a particular dream of his. John loved his life honorably serving New York and sailing the Hudson until he retired from service in 1975. He eventually moved with his family to Wayne, New Jersey, where he lived for over 40 years. John spent the last several years residing in Stuart, Florida.
He was predeceased by his late wife Barbara (nee Pavleca) Skaflestad (May 4, 2012); and sister Gerda Tellefsen. He is survived and loved by his three children: Kristen Pacilio and husband Ronald of Charlotte, North Carolina; Stephen Skaflestad and wife Dorothy of Wall, and Jamie Longo and husband Anthony of Wayne. Cherished grandfather of Marleine Pacilio, Allison Fredricks and her husband Kevin, and Jonathan Pacilio; Dana Hafner and husband Steve of Pequannock, and Kara Skaflestad of Brooklyn, New York. Much loved great grandfather of Taylor and Michael Fredricks; Caroline Hafner. Loved brother of Trygve Skaflestad and his late wife Evelyn (July 6, 2012) of Toms River; Ralph Skaflestad and his wife Lorraine of Commack, Long Island, New York; and brother-in-law Sjur Tellefsen of Fayson Lakes.
John will be remembered as a kind and loyal man with an extraordinary sense of humor, and for his remarkable pride in both his country and Norwegian heritage.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 would be appreciated. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=66
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