Obituary of John Russell Middleton
John R. Middleton of Boonton Township, NJ went to be with our Lord on February 16, 2024, 93 years young. He is now reunited with his loving spouse of fifty-seven years, Alice L. (Albert) Middleton and their son, David Scott Middleton.
John, called Jack, but also known as Jackie and Noodles, was born in Lincoln Park, NJ and graduated from Boonton High School. He served in the U.S. Navy in the early 1950s as a Machinist’s Mate and member of the elite Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), known as the Frogmen. He met Alice Albert while on leave from the Navy in 1952, and the two married in October of 1953. They raised three fine sons: David Scott, Bruce, and Glen. Following his military service, Jack worked as a maintenance worker at a laundry service owned by his in-laws, Henry & Margaret (Mahalick) Albert. He then worked as a merchandiser for over twenty-five years with the C. F. Mueller Company, a family-owned pasta company founded in Jersey City. until the 1980’s when it was bought out by Foremost-McKesson and eventually Best Foods, a Unilever company. After retiring early in 1988, he became an independent contractor for Best Foods, servicing the Pathmark Supermarket chain in the Tri-State area.
For over sixty years, Jack was a devoted member of Maxfield Hose & Engine Co. No. 1 of the Boonton Fire Department (BFD). He served as President of Maxfield H&E, Chaplain of the fire department, and Captain of BFD’s award-winning Color Guard. Jack could often be heard over the BFD Labor Day Fair’s loudspeakers from the 50/50 stand.
Jack is survived by his loving sons and their families: Bruce, his wife, Janet (Cikovsky), and their children, Kristen, Lauren, and Bruce Jr. and his wife, Kelsey Sirica, of Boonton, NJ; and Glen, his wife, Rocio, and their son, Scott, of Carlsbad, CA; his sister, Florence Smith of DE and his two nephews.
Visitation will be held 4-7 pm on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the Codey & Mackey Funeral Home in Boonton.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Jack at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton. Interment will immediately follow in the church memorial garden with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack's memory to the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton and/or the Boonton Fire Department.
To give condolences or share a memory, please visit CodeyMackeyFH.com