Obituary: Stephen Pianka, 92, of Middletown

Stephen J. Pianka

(Died October 10, 2015)

Stephen Pianka, 92, of Magnolia Place, Middletown, husband of the late Jeanne (Warzecha) Pianka, died Saturday October 10, 2015, at Middlesex Hospital.

He was born in Middletown, the son of the late Peter and Marianne (Jurczak) Pianka. A veteran of World War II, Stephen served with the US Marines Corp. in the South Pacific and received the Purple Heart and a Gold Star. Prior to his retirement, he was the Carpenter’s Shop Supervisor at Connecticut Valley Hospital. Steve was a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary Church, a member of the Catholic War Veterans, B.P.O. Elks Lodge 771, and Polish Falcons.

He is survived by his son, Martin Robbins-Pianka and his wife Barrett of Middletown; daughter, Sharon Pianka and her husband Leonard Goldman of Texas; sister, Terry Dykas of Middletown; three grandchildren, Adam Robbins-Pianka of Boulder, CO, Ethan Robbins-Pianka, and Orson Robbins-Pianka and his wife Emily Hager, all of Brooklyn, NY; and two great grandchildren, Oscar and Maya; also several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, Raymond, Anthony, Paul, Walter, Henry Pianka, and sisters, Belle Marino, Loretta Ghent, Shirley Rau, Rosalie Spencer, Dorothy Borowski, and Genevieve Marshall-Bombaci.

His Funeral Liturgy will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church, S. Main St., Middletown. Burial with military honors will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home on Oct. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. Those who wish may send memorial contributions St. Mary’s Church, 79 S. Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 or the Weiss Hospice Unit c/o Dept. of Philanthropy, 28 Crescent St., Middletown, CT 06457.