Ed J. Nitcznski

Edward J. Nitcznski, 88, a long time resident of Las Vegas, NM, passed away in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque on Thursday evening with his loving family a his bedside. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Mary Nitcznski and two brothers: Clemmence and Tony Nitcznski. Clemmence was killed during the D-Day invasion of France on Omaha Beach.
He leaves behind his beloved wife Oneta Nitcznski of Las Vegas; on son, Jesse Thomas (Tom) Nitcznski and wife Janie of Las Vegas, NM; a daughter Linda Kay Nitcznski Forbes and husband Tom of Savannah, TN; and loving grandchildren: Lora Smalley and husband and Myles Fisher of Albuquerque, NM, Chris Nitcznski and wife Barbara of Denver, CO, Daniel Nitcznski and wife Fay of Albuquerque, NM, and Elita Nitcznski of Bosque Farms, NM; great-grandchildren: Anastazia, Oneta, & Kaye Nitcznski, Shosha McGreggor, and Larrissa Fisher. He also leaves sisters Eleanor Beattie of Petaluma, CA, Sissy Retinski of Dushore, PA, and Dolores Spellman of Miami, FL; a brother, Nartzy Nitcznski and wife Martha of Dushore, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews and dear friends, Roger and Janice Harris of Albuquerque, NM.
And John and Tisa Schmelz of Santa Fe, NM.
He was born on September 13, 1922 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He served in the Army-Air Corps at Camp Luna, NM during World War II and was honorably discharged on November 8, 1945. He was in the battles of New Guinea and the Southern Philipines and was a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, the Bronze Star, the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Philippines Liberation ribbon, the Victory medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He met the love of his life, Oneta Skinner and was united in marriage on August 26, 1943 and then he headed for the South Pacific. He received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star among other awards and medals. He was on the invasion of New Guinea, Philippines, and many others. After the war, he came home to Las Vegas and worked as a mechanic for Ivan Hilton, Quality Chevrolet, and B. M. Worley Auto Company and then operated Ed's Repair Shop, which then became Ed's Rambler in 1959 and later became Ed's Motor Company with gaining of the AMC dealership. He semi-retired in 1997 and was a very active member of the 20/30 Club and helped maintain the skating pond in Gallinas Canyon. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved being in outdoors. He was also a member of B. P. O. Elks Lodge #408 and was a private light aircraft pilot and on occasion flew the NM State Police Diving Teams around the State of New Mexico.
A visitation will be held on Sunday in St. Francis Chapel at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 2315 Hot Springs Blvd., 2315 Hot Springs Blvd in Las Vegas, NM followed by a rosary at 7:00 p.m. in the same chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. from the Immaculate Conception Church. Father George V. Salazar will celebrate the Mass. The interment will follow in the family plot in the Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery with the following serving as casket bearers: Clyde Pickett, Bill Cox, Don Smith, Gabe Romero, John Schmelz, and Fred Sanchez. Honorary bearers will be Tom Ashworth and Roger Harris.. Memorials may be made to the AmericanHeart Association, P. O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.

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