Ernest Grabich

Ernest Grabich, born June 1, 1925, of Surf City, NJ and formerly of West New York, NJ, passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at the age of 92. He was a proud WWII veteran and the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving; the Silver Star awarded for gallantry in action, and The Prisoner of War Medal awarded to any person who was taken prisoner or held captive while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States. Ernie served in the US Army for 27 months and spent 11 months in the European Theater with the 88th Infantry Division, first campaign in Italy. He was wounded in action and taken prisoner by Germans on October 24, 1944. He was held captive in a German prisoner of war camp for 9 months and honorably endured the unimaginable.

Ernie was a carpenter by trade in local 299 of Hudson County, NJ and worked on major construction projects including the construction of the George Washington Bridge, the refurbishment of the Holland Tunnel and became the Foreman of the Historic Restoration Project of the beautiful Historic Jersey City County Courthouse in Jersey City, NJ.

He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Josephine and his beloved son Russell. Ernie will be missed by his loving children; Diane, Roger and Ryan, his 8 grandchildren; Jason Riccardi, Beth Wolanski, Simon Grabich, Andrew Grabich, Molly Grabich, Shannon Grabich, Richard Grabich and Hailee Grabich and his 10 great-grandchildren; Megan, Christopher, Samantha, Jonathan, Hailie, Ethan, Albie, Hollis, Aaron and Joshua.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Rd, Manahawkin, NJ, on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A funeral mass will take place at St. Mary of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin, NJ, at 12:00 PM on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org