Obituary of joseph T. Wakula

joseph T. Wakula 92 of Cortland passed away July 30, 2011 in Cortland Regional Medical Center. Joe was born March 19, 1919 in Ringwood, New Jersey the son of Polish Immigrants, Frank and Sophia Zybura Wakula. He served his country with the US Army 14th Armored Division during WWII. Joe was a communicant of St. Marys Church, and a member of the North American Fishing Club. He worked as a machinist for Cortland Machine and Tool then went to work as a foreman at the Pumping station of the Cortland Water board, retiring in 1981. While working at the pump station, he enjoyed helping set up the lights for the water works Christmas display, tending to the flower beds and taking care of the deer and fish. Joe was an avid hunter, woodworker and had a passion for fishing and gardening; he took great pleasure in giving his vegetables away to family, friends and occasional strangers. Joe is survived by his wife of 65 years Helen Seamans Wakula of Cortland, his children Gary (Wendy ) Wakula of Marathon, , Karen Levan of Vestal , Patricia (Jeffrey) Seibert of Homer, his grandsons Timothy and Samuel Seibert of Homer, his brother Thaddeus Wakula of Cortland, several nieces and nephews.. In addition to his parents Joe was predeceased by his brothers Frank, Emil, Walter, and Leon Leo Wakula, sisters Anna Sanchez, and Mary Pasco. Calling hours will be held Tuesday evening from 5-7 pm at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home 9 Lincoln Ave. Graveside services will be held 11:00 am Wednesday in St. Anthonys Cemetery Groton. Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in Joes name is asked to consider the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment 174 Court St. Binghamton, NY 13901 or the charity of ones choice To offer on line condolences visit www.wright-beard.com To: Friends and relatives of joseph T. Wakula - better known as "Fisherman Joe", I offer my sincere condolences at this sad point in time. Joe and I ("Bill") became good friends and fishing buddies in Canada starting in the early 1970's and continuing almost yearly up until 1996. "Joe" was a good friend and a better fisherman than myself and an excellent cook for all of us at camp during each time we fished in Quebec, Canada - we also made several fly-in trips to various lake sites in Canada. In these last years, Joe and I enjoyed going once a week to Dunkin Donuts and reminisced about the many good fishing trips we had experienced together in past years - he will be sorely missed by me and others whom he befriended over several years Wilfred H. Withers Dear Gary and Wendy, I'm sorry to learn of the passing of your father. Mr. Wakula must have been a wonderful man to have had such a role in creating a family as dear as yours. Sincerely, Joni Flatt I wanted to let the fmaily of Joe Wakula know how sorry I was to hear from my father of his passing. I remember going to Canada on some trips when he was along, even back to when I was very young. He liked to kid around and was enjoyable to fish with because he always had something to talk about. He will be missed. Brad Withers