Obituary of Joseph P. Powzyk

Joseph (Joe) P. Powzyk, age 91, passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Vermont Veterans' Home in Bennington, Vermont with family members present. Born on December 5,1918 at home in what is now Latham, NY, he was the son of Andrew and Mary Kuzma Powzyk. He graduated from Cohoes High School and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Joe was stationed in London, England with the 447th Bomb Group during WWII. He served as an airplane mechanic working on B-17s. On September 15, 1945, Joe married Eleanor Jean Burr at the home of the bride in Hanford, California. A second wedding was held at St. Peter and St. Paul Ukranian Catholic Church in Cohoes, NY. The couple had a house built on New Sparrowbush Road in Latham, where they raised their five children. Joe was employed at Bell Telephone Company, as a communication technician, until his retirement in 1982. As a young man, Joe played the cornet in local bands. He was a fine dancer and enjoyed a variety of music. Joe was fond of painting familiar landscapes with oil paints. As an avid and longstanding HAM radio operator, Joe spoke frequently over his HAM radio set with members of Crackerjacks, a HAM radio group. He built a seasonal home on Gull Bay, Lake George and spent his summers there enjoying his family, the lake, fishing and boating. Joe was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, brother Andrew and sister Ann Terpening, Latham. Surviving Joe are two sons Joel and his wife Cathy of Clifton Park, James and his wife Ellen of Schenectady; three daughters Cheryl and her husband Steve Curtis of West Hatfield, MA, Elizabeth and her husband Thomas of Canton, NY, Joyce and her husband Stephen Devoto of Middletown, CT.; nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Memorials in Joe's name may be made to St. Peter and St. Paul Ukranian Catholic Church, 198 Ontario Street, Cohoes, New York. A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday December 19 at Dufresne and Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Road, Latham. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com