1

EASTHAMPTON - John E. Kargul, 86, of Harrison Avenue, passed away on Nov. 11, 2009, surrounded by his family at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

He was born in Bondsville and was the son of the late Frank and Catherine (Pisarczyk) Kargul. John was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and a member of the 66th infantry division, Panther division, in the European Theater of Operations, Battery A-721st Field Artillery Battalion, which landed on D-Day in France in 1944. After returning home from World War II, John eventually became employed at the Savage Arms Gun Factory in Westfield, from which he retired in the 1980s. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent many years hiking, hunting and fishing. He had several good friends who were fellow outdoorsmen who spent many good times at a cabin in rural Vermont.

At home he was an avid gardener who grew tomatoes, cucumbers, and many other fruits and vegetables from which he made his own pickles. He lived his entire life in Easthampton and had several boyhood friends there whom he kept in touch with for many years. John enjoyed watching sports, visiting his friends and tending his gardens around town by riding his moped. He will be missed by his many friends and his loving family. John was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Easthampton.

He leaves his brother, Joseph Kargul of Easthampton; his sister, Julie Godek and her husband Edward of Chicopee; his two nieces, Diane M. Godek and her husband Mark Giard and Kimberly Toland and her husband Dean; two nephews, David Godek and Mark Kargul and his wife Susan; and several great-nieces and -nephews. His brother, Frank Kargul, predeceased John.

A calling hour will be held on Monday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Boucher-O'Brien Funeral Home, 7 Pleasant St., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church.

Burial with military honors will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Sacred Heart Church Organ Fund, 33 Knipfer Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027.