John M. Denka (sometimes spelled Denke, and pronounced Denkey) was born c. 1867-1871 in "Germany" (around the Danzig area in West Prussia) to parents Francis (or Andrew) Denka and Catherine Schup (or Schap). He worked in Syracuse as a engineer/machinist in the automobile equipment industry (at the Owen-Dyneto plant for his last eight years). He was married first to Anna Denka around 1887; they had two sons and a daughter still living in 1930. After Anna died, he married widow Elizabeth Kraft Lipke (they had met at Assumption Cemetery while visiting their respective spouse's graves in plots near to each other). They lived at John's house at 237 Martin Street in Syracuse, with Elizabeth's sons, Jack and Leonard Lipke.
The wedding of "John N. Denke and Elisabeth M. Lipke" took place on August 28, 1926, Catholic Priest Frederick Schroff of Assumption Church, Syracuse officiating, during the tenure of Rev. Norbert Scheid O.M.C., head priest. Witnesses were Jacob A. Froehlich and Maria V. Froehlich. This wedding occurred just 10 days after Elizabeth's son Tony and Clara Kreischer had "eloped" (i.e. to be married without family in attendance) in Liverpool (with Elizabeth's consent).
According to Assumption Cemetery records, John Denka was buried 15 May 1930 in Assumption Cemetery, Section I, Lot 71, beside his first wife, Anna. There is a double marker over them with a cross between their names. However, the 1931 Syracuse city directory states: "Denka John M (Elizabeth) died May 17 1930 age 62." His probate file in Onondaga County confirms the date of death as May 17.
"Grandpa Denka" was a kindly man who would play polkas on his concertina and was remembered fondly by those who knew him, who also remembered his talkative parrot named Polly who asked incessantly "Where'd Pa go?" after he died.
Obituary:
Funeral services for John M. Denka, 62, machinist, who died at St. Joseph hospital yesterday after a week's illness of pneumonia, will be conducted at the home, 237 Martin street, at 8.30 Tuesday morning and half an hour later at the Church of Assumption. Burial will be in Assumption cemetery. He was born in Germany and had been a resident of Syracuse 50 years. Mr. Denka was a member of Salt City Court 33, Foresters of America. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lipka Denka; two sons, a daughter, four stepsons and two stepdaughters.
[From the Syracuse Post Standard, Sunday 18 May 1930, page 24, column 3.]
The wedding of "John N. Denke and Elisabeth M. Lipke" took place on August 28, 1926, Catholic Priest Frederick Schroff of Assumption Church, Syracuse officiating, during the tenure of Rev. Norbert Scheid O.M.C., head priest. Witnesses were Jacob A. Froehlich and Maria V. Froehlich. This wedding occurred just 10 days after Elizabeth's son Tony and Clara Kreischer had "eloped" (i.e. to be married without family in attendance) in Liverpool (with Elizabeth's consent).
According to Assumption Cemetery records, John Denka was buried 15 May 1930 in Assumption Cemetery, Section I, Lot 71, beside his first wife, Anna. There is a double marker over them with a cross between their names. However, the 1931 Syracuse city directory states: "Denka John M (Elizabeth) died May 17 1930 age 62." His probate file in Onondaga County confirms the date of death as May 17.
"Grandpa Denka" was a kindly man who would play polkas on his concertina and was remembered fondly by those who knew him, who also remembered his talkative parrot named Polly who asked incessantly "Where'd Pa go?" after he died.
Obituary:
Funeral services for John M. Denka, 62, machinist, who died at St. Joseph hospital yesterday after a week's illness of pneumonia, will be conducted at the home, 237 Martin street, at 8.30 Tuesday morning and half an hour later at the Church of Assumption. Burial will be in Assumption cemetery. He was born in Germany and had been a resident of Syracuse 50 years. Mr. Denka was a member of Salt City Court 33, Foresters of America. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lipka Denka; two sons, a daughter, four stepsons and two stepdaughters.
[From the Syracuse Post Standard, Sunday 18 May 1930, page 24, column 3.]
John M. Denka (sometimes spelled Denke, and pronounced Denkey) was born c. 1867-1871 in "Germany" (around the Danzig area in West Prussia) to parents Francis (or Andrew) Denka and Catherine Schup (or Schap). He worked in Syracuse as a engineer/machinist in the automobile equipment industry (at the Owen-Dyneto plant for his last eight years). He was married first to Anna Denka around 1887; they had two sons and a daughter still living in 1930. After Anna died, he married widow Elizabeth Kraft Lipke (they had met at Assumption Cemetery while visiting their respective spouse's graves in plots near to each other). They lived at John's house at 237 Martin Street in Syracuse, with Elizabeth's sons, Jack and Leonard Lipke.
The wedding of "John N. Denke and Elisabeth M. Lipke" took place on August 28, 1926, Catholic Priest Frederick Schroff of Assumption Church, Syracuse officiating, during the tenure of Rev. Norbert Scheid O.M.C., head priest. Witnesses were Jacob A. Froehlich and Maria V. Froehlich. This wedding occurred just 10 days after Elizabeth's son Tony and Clara Kreischer had "eloped" (i.e. to be married without family in attendance) in Liverpool (with Elizabeth's consent).
According to Assumption Cemetery records, John Denka was buried 15 May 1930 in Assumption Cemetery, Section I, Lot 71, beside his first wife, Anna. There is a double marker over them with a cross between their names. However, the 1931 Syracuse city directory states: "Denka John M (Elizabeth) died May 17 1930 age 62." His probate file in Onondaga County confirms the date of death as May 17.
"Grandpa Denka" was a kindly man who would play polkas on his concertina and was remembered fondly by those who knew him, who also remembered his talkative parrot named Polly who asked incessantly "Where'd Pa go?" after he died.
Obituary:
Funeral services for John M. Denka, 62, machinist, who died at St. Joseph hospital yesterday after a week's illness of pneumonia, will be conducted at the home, 237 Martin street, at 8.30 Tuesday morning and half an hour later at the Church of Assumption. Burial will be in Assumption cemetery. He was born in Germany and had been a resident of Syracuse 50 years. Mr. Denka was a member of Salt City Court 33, Foresters of America. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lipka Denka; two sons, a daughter, four stepsons and two stepdaughters.
[From the Syracuse Post Standard, Sunday 18 May 1930, page 24, column 3.]
The wedding of "John N. Denke and Elisabeth M. Lipke" took place on August 28, 1926, Catholic Priest Frederick Schroff of Assumption Church, Syracuse officiating, during the tenure of Rev. Norbert Scheid O.M.C., head priest. Witnesses were Jacob A. Froehlich and Maria V. Froehlich. This wedding occurred just 10 days after Elizabeth's son Tony and Clara Kreischer had "eloped" (i.e. to be married without family in attendance) in Liverpool (with Elizabeth's consent).
According to Assumption Cemetery records, John Denka was buried 15 May 1930 in Assumption Cemetery, Section I, Lot 71, beside his first wife, Anna. There is a double marker over them with a cross between their names. However, the 1931 Syracuse city directory states: "Denka John M (Elizabeth) died May 17 1930 age 62." His probate file in Onondaga County confirms the date of death as May 17.
"Grandpa Denka" was a kindly man who would play polkas on his concertina and was remembered fondly by those who knew him, who also remembered his talkative parrot named Polly who asked incessantly "Where'd Pa go?" after he died.
Obituary:
Funeral services for John M. Denka, 62, machinist, who died at St. Joseph hospital yesterday after a week's illness of pneumonia, will be conducted at the home, 237 Martin street, at 8.30 Tuesday morning and half an hour later at the Church of Assumption. Burial will be in Assumption cemetery. He was born in Germany and had been a resident of Syracuse 50 years. Mr. Denka was a member of Salt City Court 33, Foresters of America. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lipka Denka; two sons, a daughter, four stepsons and two stepdaughters.
[From the Syracuse Post Standard, Sunday 18 May 1930, page 24, column 3.]
Inscription
FATHER
John Denka
1867 - 1930
MOTHER
Anna Denka
1870 - 1925
Family Members
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