Obituary of Edward Norkus

Edward Norkus, 94, of Toms River, passed away Friday, December 18, 2009 at home. Born in Freehold, the last surviving and youngest of twelve children to the late John & Mary (nee Madden) Norkus, he lived there and also in Colts Neck, residing in Toms River for the last twenty years. During World War II, he worked as a butcher and grocer at the Tabletalk Store in Freehold Borough. Later he and his late brother Francis founded Norkus Brothers Foodtown, with stores in Freehold and Farmingdale. He served on the Board of Directors of both Foodtown and Twin County Grocers and also served as a specialist of the Meat Committee of Foodtown. After his retirement, Ed and his wife would travel the country in their motor home. Maine and Key Largo, Florida were destinations that produced memories that will be treasured by his family for a lifetime. He loved to go fishing, boating, and the Freehold Raceway. Ed leaves behind his loving wife, Jean Shaltis Norkus, they would have been married seventy-four years on December 29; three sons, David Norkus and his wife Gail of Point Pleasant, Richard Norkus and his wife Patricia of AZ, and Robert Norkus and his wife Margaret of PA; two daughters, Marjorie Giles and her husband Garrett of Brick and Diane Arbachesky and her husband Charles of Brielle; ten grandchildren, Brian, Donna, Scott, Amy, Stephen, Denise, Derek, Christopher, Victoria, and Garrett; and seventeen great-grandchildren. Friends may visit from 2 - 4 p.m. & 7 - 9 p.m., Tuesday, December 22, at the Pable - Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant, 901 Beaver Dam Road. At 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, a service will be held at the funeral home followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle. For directions or online condolences visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com