Albert Tatka

Albert S. Tatka died Monday June 11, 2012 at Newton Medical Center. He was 72.

Son of John and Mary (Jandura) Tatka, he was born in Franklin Dec. 6, 1939. He had been a lifelong resident of Franklin.

Mr. Tatka was a 1957 graduate of Franklin High School. He worked for Picatinny Arsenal and later served as vice president of operations at Metaltec Corp. in Franklin. He retired from Ames Rubber Corp. in Hamburg, where he was a mold designer and engineer. Mr. Tatka also owned and operated Al’s Custom Gunsmithing in Franklin for over 40 years.

He was an Exempt Member and Past Chief (1988-1989) of the Franklin Fire Department, as well as a member of the Franklin Fire Department Relief Association and the New Jersey Chief’s Association. He had played on the Franklin Miners Football team. He was a member of the Top of New Jersey Waywayanda and Flying Hawks R/C Club and he was a member of the Franklin Rifle and Revolver and Colesville gun clubs.

Mr. Tatka is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joanne (Rosa) Tatka; children, MaryAnne Gruszecki and her husband Tom of Franklin, Albert S. Tatka Jr. of Wantage and Michael Tatka and his wife Janine of Hardyston; sister, Ann Zeiher of Largo, Fla.; brother, John Tatka of Scottsdale, Ariz., and grandchildren, Ashton, Merinda and Audra.

Funeral services will be held Saturday June 16, at noon from F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main St., Franklin to Immaculate Conception RC Church for a 12:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Private cremation will follow. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Fire Dept. services will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial donations in his memory may be made to: Franklin Fire Department, 137 Buckwheat Rd., P.O. Box 234, Franklin, NJ 07416 or Wallkill Valley First aid Squad P.O. Box 274 Franklin, NJ 07416.

To offer online condolences go to fjohnramseyfuneralhome.com.