Julian Gocek

September 22, 1917 - March 26, 2015

Julian Gocek, born in Syracuse, September 22, 1917, passed away in Oswego on March 26. Julian and his brother, Ludwik were named after Julius and Louis Vaech, who employed Julian's father, Jan, as a blacksmith. The family was poor, moved a lot and didn't have enough to eat. Then, the Great Depression started and everything got worse! Julian worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New York and North Carolina. He was drafted into the US Army in 1941 and landed on Omaha Beach in 1944 with the 897th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company (see http://www.gocek.org/897/ ). As time passed, Julian enjoyed talking about the war and the stories became mostly about camaraderie. But, don't let that fool you; the war was dirty and bloody and far from home. Julian did not enjoy the war. He enjoyed his work, his Polish and Ukrainian heritage, his friends and his family. He worked for Sun Oil Company for 25 years, and for Fay Drug and Eckerd Drug. He was a member of the Polish Community Home where he was an avid bowler. He was confirmed in Gloucester, England in 1944 and was a communicant at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Julian loved his family, and he always tried to be a good shepherd. Sometimes he gave you more advice than you asked for, but he always gave it with love. Julian loved to wake us up in the morning by calling, "Rise and shine!" "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the lord has risen upon you." [Isaiah 60:1] Julian is survived by his wife, Joan (Lefancheck); a son Gary (Susan) and a daughter Gretchen (Chuck) Baker; two grandsons: Gregory and Daniel and a granddaughter, Gabrielle Baker. There will be no calling hours. Family and friends may meet at Giminski-Wysocki Funeral Home, 1320 W Genesee St., Syracuse, NY on Tuesday, March 31 at 9:00 AM. A funeral mass will follow at 10:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 425 Beechwood Ave, Liverpool, NY, and burial at Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 4069 Howlett Hill Road, Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Army Emergency Relief, Attn: Donations, 200 Stovall Street, Room 5S33, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.