John E. Cyrulik, Sr., 104, of Middletown, beloved husband of the late Wladyslawa "Lottie" (Kowalczyk) Cyrulik, passed away peacefully on Friday January 13, 2023 at Portland Care and Rehabilitation Centre.

He was born December 10, 1918 in Middletown, one of 11 children of the late Waclaw and Pauline (Bys) Cyrulik. John and all of his siblings were born in their 4-room home on Butternut Street. As a child John earned money to help his family by picking tobacco for 50 cents per day, clearing weeds at Wilcox & Crittenden Factory for 15 cents per hour and cutting grass for 30 cents per hour. John left school at age 16 to help support his siblings. At that time schools issued working papers which allowed students to leave school and take jobs. At 17 John got his first big job at the I.E. Palmer Company.

On September 16, 1940 the Selective Training and Service Act – today we know it as "The Draft" was instituted which required all men between 21 and 45 to register. John registered and completed his physical on December 5, 1941 to fulfill this requirement. On January 15, 1942 at 23 years of age, John was drafted. He would spend the next 44 months serving this country in the 135th Artillery, Battalion C Division of the 37th Ohio Infantry Division. His entire 44 months in the service were in the South Pacific which included being on Fiji, the Philippine Islands, Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Luzon. John was honorably discharged as a Corporal from the Army in October, 1945.When John returned home to Middletown after being discharged, he resumed his former job at Wilcox & Crittenden. His future wife, Lottie also worked there, but the two knew each other from elementary school. John and Lottie were married on November 19, 1949. After their wedding, they lived with John's mother on Butternut Street to help her raise his siblings and to save for their future home. Eventually John and Lottie moved into a rental house on Pearl Street and then on Washington Street. Sometime around 1961/62 they applied for a G.I. Bill's housing benefit and were able to purchase a building lot and the custom home they had envisioned was built.

John became a volunteer firefighter in Middletown while he was still working at Wilcox & Crittenden. As a volunteer he worked 3 days on 3 days off but could not afford to give up his full-time employment – but that would change. John's brother, Frank, was a "regular" firefighter for the City of Middletown and eventually was able to help John facilitate a "regular" position as a Middletown Firefighter. John was a Middletown Firefighter from January 10, 1952, retiring on November 3, 1980. To supplement the family income John also worked on an "on-call" basis for Biega Funeral Home for 32 years. John enjoyed watching all types of sports from golf, racecars to football and everything in between. In particular John was a lifelong diehard Boston Red Sox fan. He also was a member of the City of Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073 and a member of the 37th Division Veterans Association. Always proud to be 100% Polish he belonged to the Polish Falcons of America NEST 519 and the Tadeusz Kosciuszko Society Inc. (i.e., "K-Club"). Always the helper, each year John could always be found making pierogies with the St. Mary of Czestochowa Ladies Guild. John and Lottie enjoyed going on various bus trips with St Mary's Senior Club. Sadly, Lottie pre-deceased John on May 21, 1996. John continued to live his life as a widower with fortitude and selflessness, always there for his family and friends.

John is survived by four children, Diane and her husband Stanley Wollock of Deep River, John Cyrulik, Jr. and his wife Carol of Leland, NC, Anthony Cyrulik and his wife Leslie of Rocky Hill, Philip Cyrulik and his wife Gail of Overland Park, KS; his brother, Stanley Cyrulik of Waterford and sister, Mary Tomczak of Middletown, grandson, Stanley Wollock, Jr. and his wife Michelle of East Lyme, and great granddaughter, Samantha Wollock. John was predeceased by his brothers, Edward, Frank, Joseph, and Adolph Cyrulik and sisters, Mary Cyrulik, Helen Malinowski, Stephanie Bystrek, and Veronica Kolenda.

The family appreciates the wonderful care from the doctors, nurses, aides and other staff members at the Portland Care and Rehabilitation Centre. The family would like to send special acknowledgement to Dr. Alison Carini for the many years of care and support she provided to John.

Funeral service will be held at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown, on Wednesday (Jan. 18th) at 9:45 a.m. followed by a Funeral Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Middletown. Burial with Military honors' will be held at the State Veterans' Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday (Jan. 17) from 5 to 7 p.m. at Biega Funeral Home. Those who wish may send memorial contributions to St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, 79 S. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457  or Middletown CT Tiller Association, 93 Reservoir Rd., Middletown, CT 06457. To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.