Obituary: John J. McElroy, 89

John J. McElroy, 89, of Lawrence Township passed away on Jan. 23 at the Millhouse Nursing Home with his beloved wife of 63 years, Evangeline, by his side.

John joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in his late teens and was assigned to High Point State Park. At the start of World War II he enlisted in the Marine Corps, training at Parris Island and Camp Lejeune.

Assigned to the 4th Marine Division he was a survivor of four major Pacific battles: Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. He was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

At the end of the war, John returned to his home of North Bergen and joined the police force. After serving as a police officer for a number of years, he was elevated to homicide detective and for the final 16 years of his 26 year career he was a member of the Narcotics Squad working in northern New Jersey and New York City.

After retiring from the police force he worked for an additional 10 years at a JINS (Juveniles in Need of Supervision) shelter. He also was the past president of the New Jersey Police Honor Legend.

John loved his family, the New Jersey shore, sports and eating. He was a Hero Marine, a Hero Police Officer and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

John was predeceased by his parents, John and Gladys; his brother, Charles Edward; and his sister, Myrtle Bruno. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, George and his partner, Jennifer Petrino; and his granddaughters, Caitlin and her partner, John Ward, and Julia and her husband, Kaleb Wells.

He is also survived by his sisters, Gladys and her husband, Joe Tomaszewski, and Diane and her husband, Robert Parisi; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at , 1253 Lawrence Rd., Lawrence Township.

Friends may call at the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Rd., Pennington, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.