Obituary of John Thomas Mangan

John Mangan, 93, of Freehold passed away peacefully on Sept 20, 2014 in his home surrounded by family. John grew up in Rochelle Park and graduated from Hackensack High School. He excelled in sports was a star athlete and became a lifelong avid sports fan. He was in the U.S. Navy for seven years during WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater where he was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal with Five Stars, American Theatre Medal, American Defense Medal, Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. In 1948 he married Florence Windhausen, the love of his life, and they were together for 63 years. They raised three daughters in Little Falls and later settled in Freehold. He loved spending summers on Lake Ontario in Three Mile Bay, N.Y. You would often see him on the lake in his rowboat with his fishing hat on, sunscreen on his nose and fishing pole in hand. Later in life he discovered a hidden talent and passion for painting and he spent many hours in his den/art studio with a brush in his hand. Most of John’s extended family has one of his creations in a place of honor in their home. We will miss his quiet wit and sense of humor, his devotion to family and friends, his zest for life and his smiling Irish eyes. John was predeceased by his son Thomas, wife Florence and brother Robert. He is survived by his daughters, Marta (Chris) Lev and her wife Beth of Massachusetts, Kathy and her husband Richard Pultar, Freehold and Karen Nedd and her partner Charles Gregory, Freehold. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amara and her husband Ben Schaible, Manasquan, Richard Pultar and his wife Erica, Maui, Hawaii and Sam, and Ariana Lev; and his great grandchildren Ella and Owen Schaible. John was also blessed with a large extended family of cousins, nephews and close friends who will miss him dearly. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Monday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org would be appreciated.