Obituary of Joseph Turkovic

Joseph (Joe) Turkovic, age 96, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2021 at home in Lincroft, New Jersey after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Marija (2019) for 70 years. He was the loving father of his son, John (2011), his daughter, Maria Mrakovcic and her husband, Peter, and his son, Nicholas and his wife, Elizabeth. Beloved grandfather to Peter Mrakovcic (Mary), Daniel Mrakovcic (Tracy), Joseph Turkovic (2008), Teresa Turkovic, Richard Turkovic, Kristen-Anne Cauterucci (Anthony) and Evan Turkovic. Beloved great grandfather to Violet, Kyla, Lanie and Christian. Dear uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved sister, Tonica Franki, and beloved brother, Ive. Joe was born and raised in Omisalj, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia) in 1924. He attended local schools and became an electrician. In 1949, he married the love of his life, Marija. Wanting a better life for their young family, Joseph, Marija and their children, John and Maria emigrated to the United States in 1960. The family lived briefly in Manhattan before settling on Staten Island in 1962. Upon coming to America, Joe worked for Poling Transportation as an engine room oiler. In 1964 he began working at the Arthur Kill Generating Station for Con Edison as a maintenance electrician and continued until his retirement in 1989. He enjoyed working on various home improvement projects both at his home and those of his children. He could be found swinging a sledgehammer, climbing ladders and mowing his lawn well into retirement. After retirement and until moving to Lincroft in 2019, Joe was a daily communicant at the Church of St. Rita. He could be found many days fishing at various spots in Gateway Park in Great Kills. He loved to fish and had the knack of catching them while other anglers could not. It seemed the fish wanted to be caught by Joe Turkovic. Playing bocce was something he liked to do and he recently perfected his "short" game at the home of Kristen-Anne & Anthony. Joe enjoyed cooking and we all enjoyed his brudet, goulash and tripe (well, most of us enjoyed the tripe). A visit to the home of Mary and Joe ensured you would be well fed and would have imbibed in more than a few glasses of wine or bottles of beer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Funeral from the Matthew Funeral Home, Inc., 2508 Victory Boulevard, on Thursday, departing at 9:15 am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rita's R.C. Church at 10:00 am. Interment to follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm.