Charles Lajeskie

December 6, 1921 – January 27, 2009

Charles Lajeskie of Clifton entered into eternal rest with Our Lord on Saturday, January 24, 2009, with his loving family at his side. Born in New York City, on December 6, 1921, he recently celebrated his 87th Birthday. Charles lived in Clifton for fifty-six years with his beloved wife of sixty-four years, Annemarie (Scerbak). In his younger days, he played first base for the Johnstown Johnnies, Pennsylvania, a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He served as a Lieutenant in World War II in the 8th Army Air Force 95th Bomb Group as a B-17 Pilot who flew thirty-five missions over Germany. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic efforts. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 347 of Clifton.

Charlie worked as a Letter Carrier for the Clifton Post Office for twenty-five years before retiring in 1984. Prior to that he owned Charlie's Delicatessen in Lyndhurst for twelve years. Aside from baseball, Charlie enjoyed gardening and served as the President of the Rose Society. He was a wonderful father to four children; Patricia and her husband Dr. Joseph Zorn of Massachusetts, Charles and his wife Debbie of New Hampshire, Steven and his wife Julie of Lafayette, and the late Janet Schmittauer (2008) and her husband Bobby of Wantage. He is survived by eight loving grandchildren; David Zorn, Lauren and Christine Schmittauer, Carrie (Schmittauer) Conklin, Matthew and Juliann Lajeskie, Corleigh and Ashton Lajeskie and his beloved niece, Joelle O'Brien, in addition to several other cherished nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his brother Dick Lajeskie.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, 9:30 AM from the Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Ave., Clifton and 10 AM at St. Philip the Apostle R.C. Church, 797 Valley Road, Clifton. Interment to follow at St. Michael Cemetery, South Hackensack. Visiting, Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834-1365. Please visit, (www.bizub.com) for driving directions and online condolences.

Record, The (Hackensack, NJ) and Herald News (West Paterson, NJ) - Tuesday, January 27, 2009