John Klena

John (Jack) A. Klena, 89, of Harvey Cedars, NJ passed away at home on Saturday, November 17, 2018. He was born August 17, 1929 in Newark, NJ to Elizabeth (Bessie Fischer) and Ferdinand (Fred) Klena.  John is survived by his wife Joan (Williams) Klena and his daughter and son-in-law Mary Jane and Brian Edwards. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Charles Klena and his sister and brother-in-law June and Howard Perry.

John graduated from Newark’s East Side High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952, first training at Naval Station Great Lakes and then aboard the U.S.S. Orion. He worked for Ashland Chemical in Newark for 30 years and Cooper Industries in Newark until his retirement in 1989. After retiring John was active in the U.S.S. Orion Veterans Organization, where he served as President and Vice President, as well as attending many annual reunions held throughout the United States. John was an avid reader of history, and also enjoyed traveling, bicycling, skiing, boating, and fishing.

Also surviving John are his brother Fred (Budd) Klena, sisters-in-law Catherine Seitz, Jane Saint-Amour, Pat Nesta, Alice Klena, and Connie Klena; cousins, Judy and Bob Schweyher, Donald and Janet Cymbor, Donald and Alison Cymbor, Toni O’Neill, Susan Bower, Beth and John Pajak, Jennifer and Thomas Pajak, Mark and Allie Pajak, Karen Cymbor; nieces and nephews, Brian and Alice Nesta, Doug and Susie Nesta, Judy and Norman Rathborne, Patty and Peter Muroski, Kellie and Scott Iacovelli, Tom and Pam Tingley, and Susan Alexandrovich and Charlie Pasternack, Chuck and Joann Klena, Joan Boiles, Janet and John Zarnick, Barbara Perry, Linda & Keith McNally, Mark and Eileen Perry, and Candy and Bill McClernan; grandnieces and grandnephews  Ben Tingley, Norman Rathborne, Diana Rathborne, Dan Muroski, Jessica Muroski, Sarah Muroski, Danielle and Alan Moreira, Brie and Dan Bates, Ali and Ryan Curley, Mike and Dana Nesta, and Addison Iacovelli; and great grandnieces and great grandnephews AJ Moreira, Cameron Bates, Caitlin Tell, Dylan Curley, JC & Johanna Klena, Alyssa Graf, Kathryn Cymbor, Madeline Cymbor, Taylor Pajak Scott McNally, Caitlin McNally, David Perry, and Dana Perry.

The family requests that anyone wishing to honor John make a donation to Meridian Hospice, by check to Meridian Hospice, 1340 Campus Parkway, Building C – Unit 4, Neptune, NJ 07753, or by calling Meridian at (732) 751-5100.

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