Obituary of Charles L Wittek

Charles L. Wittek passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 19, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.  He was 98.

Born in Bronx, New York Charles and his wife Joan, moved to Pequannock in 1963.  Charles served in the US Navy during World War II as an Armament Mechanic, Seaman First Class.  He worked 20 years in New York City Sanitation Department, which he retired from. For another 13 years, he worked with the Parks & Rec Department of Pequannock. He was devoted to Holy Spirit Church which he did a lot of work for. He was a member of the American Legion Post #450, Pequannock, NJ where he was former Commander and one of the oldest standing members.   He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Navagh Council 5943, Pequannock. Charles was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed rifle and bow hunting in the tri-state area.  He was an enthusiastic fisherman: from Woodland Lake to the Atlantic Highlands.  Charles also enjoyed gardening in their backyard plot at their home on Madison Street. He was the “King of the Corny Jokes” who loved a good poker game and was known for dancing abilities, especially at the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Spirit Parish Hall social events.

Charles is predeceased by his Czechoslovakian parents, Rudolph Wittek and Mary (Sintal) and his loving wife of 67 years, Joan (Duffy) in 2021.  He is survived by his four children:  Ann Scrudato and her husband Robert, of Stillwater, NJ and their three children, Jill Musco (Shawn), Jaclyn Pappas (Vincent) and Lauren Everett (Jason); John Wittek and his wife, Maria of Butler, NJ; Steve Wittek and his companion, Sue Winters of Butler, NJ; and Tom Wittek and his wife, Dawn of West Milford, NJ.  Charles is also survived by his loving great-grandchildren, Molly, Emelia and Connor Musco; Owen and Graham Pappas; and Reid Everett; along with his sister, Florence Kinsley.

Charles is pre-deceased by his three brothers, Rudy, Tony and Joseph Wittek along with his four sisters, Mary Siwilec , Elizabeth “Elsie” Jensen, Teresa “Tessie” Shmenco and Helen Lynch. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 25 from 4 – 8 PM in the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, 781 Newark Pompton Turnpike (entrance on Mountain Avenue), Pompton Plains, New Jersey.  A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday at 11 AM in Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, 318 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, New Jersey.  Burial to follow in the First Reformed Church Cemetery, 529 Turnpike, Pompton Plains, New Jersey.  For those who wish to make memorial donations in Charles’ memory, please consider the Stained Glass Window Repair, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, 318 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, NJ 07440.  Envelopes are available at the Funeral Home.