Emil Medianka, age 74 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at home, with his loving and dedicated wife, Nancy, by his side, and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in Biberach, Germany, September 9, 1947, son of the late Andreas Gustav and Helen Wakaluk Medianka, Emil emigrated to the United States in December of 1951 at the age of four with his mother as refugees of World War II. He spoke German, Ukrainian, and English by the age of five. Raised in Jersey City, NJ, he would live for a time in Fords, NJ, and Hillsborough, NJ, prior to moving to Raritan Township in 1999.

Graduating St. Anthony High School, Jersey City, NJ, in 1965, Emil would go on to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, NJ, graduating with a BS in Business Administration in 1969 with his very proud parents by his side. Following graduation, Emil was drafted into the United States Army, serving as a Military Police Officer and being honorably discharged in 1971 at the rank of Sergeant. He would go on to serve another four-year term as a member of the United States Army Reserves.

Upon his return from the Army, Emil would become employed by Bell Labs (later AT&T and finally Lucent Technologies) and would work his way up to the role of Account Manager. He was well regarded by his colleagues for his wit, dedication, and outside of the box thinking that always elevated projects and made sure they were completed in a way that was better than originally planned.

AT&T was not just a career for Emil but was a place where his life surely changed for the better. A young Ms. Nancy Jean Gorski, also employed by the company, saw Emil’s photo on a bulletin board, and it was not long before a mutual friend made an introduction in 1971. Sparks flew for them both, and they would become engaged in February 1972 and would marry on June 9, 1973, Nancy’s birthday, at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption, Perth Amboy, NJ.

Their union would bring them two daughters, Michele and Stephanie, who were the light of their dad’s world. He was so proud of being a ‘girl dad’ and always encouraged his girls to be strong women and to follow their dreams. He passed onto them the importance of education, sports, and many other life-lessons that made them into the well-rounded women of which he was most proud. Emil was also proud of his Ukrainian heritage, and he made sure to pass that pride onto his daughters.

With a one-liner always at the ready, Emil’s humor was legendary, and his friendship admired by all for its genuineness and strength. He and Nancy greatly enjoyed hosting parties over the years and their summer BBQs were something they looked forward to every year. An amazing conversationalist, Emil was well read and could hold a conversation on just about any topic; he truly could be regarded as a renaissance man in every sense of the term.

His passion for history and his love of sports made for very interesting chats, and his knowledge about the University of Notre Dame and St. Peter’s College basketball would win any trivia contest. With both of his daughters graduating from Notre Dame, the University became a symbol of pride for Emil, and he was one of their most loyal fans. Growing up in Jersey City also led him to intently follow St. Peter’s College basketball, and he was so happy with their results this past year. He loved playing basketball when he was younger, and legend has it he could hit a three point shot with one hand while holding a beer in the other! In addition to Notre Dame football and St. Peter’s basketball, Emil was a fan of the Aston Villa soccer club in England. An anglophile at heart, Emil greatly enjoyed soccer and was a true fan of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

His pride and joy though, were his four grandchildren in whose eyes he truly saw the beauty of the American Dream and the successes of his own life; he arrived in the United States with nothing and now he saw the ability of his grandchildren to have anything that their minds could dream! Emily, Christopher, Liam, and Bridget were truly a light in their Pop-Pop’s heart, and he will live on through them in ways too numerous to mention; except one of course, in that they will all be future alumni of the University of Notre Dame!

In January of 2018, Emil’s world was altered dramatically after a massive stroke left him paralyzed on his left side. Nancy, honoring her vows, ensured Emil was well cared for, keeping him at home and doing whatever she needed to do to ensure he was always comfortable and could have as much of a normal life as possible. Though difficult, he was able to escort Stephanie down the aisle at her wedding and hold his newest grandchildren and make sure they knew Pop-Pop loved them with all his heart. Most importantly though, Nancy and Emil showed the world what is possible with love as a foundation.

Famous Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once said, “You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself to be.” Thank you, Emil, for showing everyone what determination, hard work, and love can do for the world, and for leaving a road map for your grandchildren to follow on their way to achieving their dreams. Rest in the sweetest of peace that you so justly earned.

Surviving is his devoted wife, Nancy J. Medianka; his daughters and sons-in-law, Michele and Kyle Beckman and Stephanie and Michael Smullen; his grandchildren, Emily and Christopher Beckman and Liam and Bridget Smullen; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Susan and David Gajarski; his faithful feline friend, Pumpkin; and many dear friends.

Emil will lie in repose on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. John Primich will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ.

Interment will follow at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, and to which all are welcome.

You are encouraged to visit Emil’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in Emil’s honor may be made to the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad, via mail to P.O. Box 686, Flemington, NJ, 08822, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”