DUDLEY – John J. Balkurna, Jr., 77, died Thursday, December 16, 2021 in Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester, with family at this side.
He leaves his wife of 43 years, Betty-Lee (Mitchell) Balkurna; a daughter, Tina Ann Nolin and her husband Michael of Thompson; 2 grandsons, Riley W. Nolin and Justin Gemme; 2 aunts, Charlotte Carpick of Dudley and Genevieve Pioppi and her husband William of Southbridge; and cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant brother William and by his step-children Gary Gemme in 2012 and Andrea Hagg on November 20.
He was born on December 6, 1944 in Webster, the son of John J. Balkurna, Sr. and Stasia T. (Kondek) Balkurna and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Bartlett Trade School in 1963.
He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Balkurna was a machinist at Pratt-Whitney Company in East Hartford for 46 years, retiring in 2011.
He belonged to the Northeastern Mountain Men and enjoyed hiking and hunting. He liked to read especially about the American Revolutionary War. He had an interest in fly fishing.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, December 21, from the Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Andrew Bobola Church, 54 West Main Street. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:15 AM Tuesday in the funeral home, prior to the Mass.