Stanley Stempien

Stanley J. Stempien, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, May 25, 2014. Born May 1, 1926, in Newark, and raised in the Finderne section of Bridgewater, he was the son of Kazimierz and Antonina Stempien. He volunteered for naval service in the Second World War, serving two and a half years as the youngest crew member of Destroyer Escort (later Fast Transport) Barber. He saw action in the Atlantic and Pacific operating areas. After the war, Stan graduated from Bound Brook High School, and then the Newark College of Engineering in 1956. He personally built his first house and eventually moved his family to a beautiful home in Bridgewater. He had a successful career as a Professional Engineer. He was active as a Fourth Degree Knight at Our Lady of the Hills Council No. 5959, at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Martinsville. He was a member of Stevenson - D’Alessio Post No. 12, American Legion, Bridgewater. Stan was a generous soul, always there when you needed him, always fixing something in need of repair, and trying to make things better through his own engineering style. He even experimented in making a newfangled golf putter. It did not improve his score one bit, but provided many laughs for his partners. Stan has given his friends and family wonderful memories and taught everyone how to enjoy life, to be grateful, to be kind, to stand up for their beliefs, work hard, and be proud. He always said to write down your accomplishments and make note of the good things in life, so you never forget. We will never forget him. Stan will be missed by his extended family, his Brother Knights, his golfing buddies, his fishing mates, the many friends he made along the way, and by all the wildlife in his woods to whom he gave their daily bread. Stan is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Jeannette Petlick Stempien, who he called “my angel”, his children, Mary Jean Stempien, David Stempien, Kathryn Harknett, and his beloved granddaughter, Margot Harknett. Friends will be received at the Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook, 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. Thursday, May 29. A Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 1890 Washington Valley Rd., Martinsville will begin at 10:00 A.M. Friday, May 30. Interment will follow at Bound Brook Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus Council 5959 Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 259, Martinsville, NJ 08836-0259.