Joseph J. Barko, 92, died Thursday, Oct. 23, at the University Medical Center at Princeton.
Mr. Barko was born in Albany, Pa., and raised in Brownsville, Pa. In 1953, he moved to East Brunswick where he built his own home and resided there until moving to Monroe Village in 2006. He served in the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and later served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He owned and operated his own service station, Lincoln Chevron Service, in South River for 33 years before his retirement in 1986. He was a former parishioner of St. Bartholomew’s R.C. Church in East Brunswick and was a member of the South River Knights of Columbus, Council No. 3001. Mr. Barko enjoyed playing pool at the East Brunswick Senior Center, trips to Atlantic City, vegetable gardening, bowling and was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth (Patrick) Barko, of Monroe; three daughters, Marianne Takacs of DeBary, Fla., Nancy Wagner of Mount Wolf, Pa., and Barbara Dennish and her husband, Mark, of Skillman; his son, Joseph Barko and his wife, Kathleen, of South Plainfield; his sister, Ann Varga of Belle Mead; two granddaughters, Nicole and Kristin Barko; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 27, from the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Monroe. A Funeral Liturgy was held at St. James R.C. Church, Jamesburg, followed by Interment in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Attn: Gift Processing, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio.

