Obituary of Joseph Michael Nitka

"Joseph M. Nitka, 89, of Barney Road, died Monday, May 09, 2005 at Radius Nursing Home in Southbridge. Born in Holyoke, September 16, 1915, he was the son of the late Thomas and Ludovica (Kolodziej) Nitka. As a teen he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, moving to Holland 70 years ago. Joseph’s working career began in textile mills in Wales and Stafford, CT. He attended adult night school at Tantasqua Regional High School, retiring as a tool and die maker from in 1980 from the former Zero Manufacturing in Monson. Joseph enjoyed gardening, carpentry and harvesting maple syrup. He was a communicant of St. Christopher’s Church in Brimfield where he served as an usher in the church for over 30 years. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and was a former Grand Knight and the treasurer in the Brimfield Council for over 30 years. He was also a 4-H leader and volunteer. Mr. Nitka was predeceased by his wife Ida (Satkowski) in 2002 and will be deeply missed by his son Joseph and his wife Carol and daughter Elaine Lengowski and her husband Anthony, all of Holland. He also leaves six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral services will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. from the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, 1475 N. Main St, followed by a liturgy of Christian burial at 12:00 p.m. in St. Christopher’s Church. Burial will follow in Holland Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from 5-8 p.m. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to St. Christopher’s Parish or Brimfield Knights of Columbus Council 4794, Brimfield, 01010. "