Grabler, William
William “Bill” Grabler age 85 of the Cranberry Lake Section of Byram Township, NJ passed away peacefully with his loving wife and family at his side Sunday June 2, 2019 at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice, Fredon, NJ. Bill was born in Jersey City, NJ on April 17, 1934, son of the late Joseph and Helen (nee Gilbert) Grabler. He attended St. John’s Elementary school in Jersey City, NJ; Xavier HS, NY; Jersey City Junior College and Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Institute of Technology). Bill proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Bill took great pride in his vocation as a civil engineer. He worked in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey as an ensign. When he left the service as a Lt. Junior Grade, he worked as a civil engineer for the Frank Briscoe Co. He earned his Professional Engineer license. Bill was employed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from which he retired in 2003.
The center of Bill’s universe was his wife of 61 years, Mary (nee Salzano). Together they traveled the country and the world. They lived in the Menlo Park Terrace section of Woodbridge, NJ; Edison, NJ; and Piscataway, NJ. They spent their summers at Cranberry Lake in Byram, NJ where they eventually retired.
A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many, Bill loved life. He was an avid reader and handyman. He had an infectious smile, a hearty laugh, a kind word for everyone, and a world class whistle. He made lifelong friends everywhere he lived. He involved himself in the activities of his children. He loved Broadway show tunes, but most of all he loved his wife and family.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Mary, his children, William and his wife Judith, James and his wife Theresa, Patricia and her husband Robert Coughlin and John and his wife Elizabeth. Also surviving are his cherished grandchildren, Jennifer, Samantha, Courtney, Maximilian, Cole and Alexandria Grabler, Robert Coughlin and his wife Brienna and Patrick Coughlin.
He is also survived by his loving brothers Joseph and his wife Cathleen and Michael as well as his sister Monica Kasin along with his many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday June 5, 2019 at 11:00a.m. in the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church, 48 Tranquility Rd. (Route 517) Andover, NJ 07821. Interment will immediately follow in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, 156 Main St. (Rt. 206) Newton, NJ Wednesday morning from 9:00a.m. to 10:30a.m. The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for the compassion and care they extended Bill in his last days, the quality of which befitted the consummate gentleman that he was. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s memory may be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave. Newton, NJ 07860.
