Obituary of John Paul Wyciskala, Jr.
John Paul Wyciskala, Jr., 88, of Pompton Plains, NJ, formerly of Cranford and Manchester, was welcomed into Heaven on July 5, 2024.
He was the devoted husband of 64 years to Barbara, the love of his life. Affectionately known as Paul, “Paulie” or “Pape’” (to his nine grandsons), he was the son of the late John Paul and Lucy Mae Wyciskala, and beloved brother to his late sister, Geraldine MacMartin.
Born in May 1936 in Bismarck, ND, Paul graduated at the top of his class from the University of North Dakota in 1958 with a degree in Accounting.
After being recruited by all the top accounting firms, he headed East that year to begin his career at Haskins & Sells in New York City. It was at H&S that Paul met his future brother-in-law, the late Brendan Reilly, who was the catalyst for a very successful blind date with his wife Claire’s sister, Barbara Dietz. Paul and Barb were married within the year, and started their lives together soon thereafter, settling in Cranford. Paul’s accounting career ultimately took him to the New York Stock Exchange, where he was a Managing Director in charge of Big Board listings until he retired 25 years later.
Although Paul had left Bismarck in 1958, he never lost his Midwestern charm and core values. He was a man of strong character, honesty, decency and practicality, and passed those traits onto his own family. He was patriotic, and a devoted Catholic, attending Mass weekly. Paul was especially well known for his corny sense of humor, sprinkling dad jokes and his funny quotes and observations around to everyone he met.
While Paul had a head and love for numbers, he was a true Renaissance man, pursing a diverse array of hobbies and interests. He had a lifelong love of hunting and fishing which he passed on to his son, John. His childhood piano lessons evolved into learning and playing the organ at church from middle school through college, as well as learning to play bagpipes and sousaphone. In retirement he took up the tuba and played in the Westfield Community Band.
Paul also assisted his wife in her career as a Westfield realtor, dutifully putting out her open house signs and greeting visitors at her open houses. He was always handy, and a skilled woodworker, creating beautiful moldings and pieces of furniture to enhance their Cranford home. When the first of his nine grandsons were born, Paul took up needlework and eventually presented each new grandchild with a hand embroidered Christmas stocking that to this day are treasured by all the boys. After moving to Manchester, he took up golf. No one was more surprised than he when he managed to make two holes-in-one in his first year of the sport.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara; and his cherished children, Jean Erickson and her husband, Rich of Tequesta, FL; Kathy Patton and her husband, Bill of Avon, CT; and John Paul III and his wife, Barbara of Mountain Lakes, NJ. He leaves behind nine grandsons, Justin, Bradley and Brennan Erickson; Daniel Patton and partner Jon Carter; Will Patton and wife Jaci; Tim Patton and fiancée Julie Zammito; and John P. Wyciskala IV (Jack), Tommy and Calvin Wyciskala.
Paul’s family would like to thank Sandra Bryann for her kindness and the excellent care she provided to Paul this past year.
Visitation is in the Cedar Crest Interfaith Chapel, Cedar Crest Dr., Pompton Plains, NJ on Thursday, July 11th beginning at 10:00am. A Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am. Interment will be private. Services were arranged by Codey & Mackey Funeral Home of Boonton. To share a condolence or memory, please visit CodeyMackeyFH.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Barbara and Paul Wyciskala Endowed Scholarship at www.keanfoundation.org