Obituary of John L. Balka

John L. “Pops” Balka, 84, of Freehold Township died Friday, December 29, 2006 at his daughter’s home in Freehold Township. Mr. Balka was born in Carteret and had resided there and in Woodbridge before moving to Freehold Township ten years ago. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Balka was a lead man for GATX, Carteret where he was employed for 46 years before his retirement in 1985. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold and was an avid supporter of the Christian Brothers Academy lacrosse and soccer teams. His wife, Ann Orosz Balka, died in 1997. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly and Dr. John Sensakovic, Lincroft and Bette Jane and Henry Lubas, Freehold Township; a brother, Louis Balka, Forked River; a sister, Helen Bauer, Mays Landing; four grandchildren, Sonia Marie Sensakovic, Michele Taylor, and Justin and Jonathan Lubas; and two great grandchildren, Lauren and J.T. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Monday from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold on Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. followed by interment at Cloverleaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Michael’s Medical Center Cancer Center, 111 Central Ave., Newark, NJ 07102