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NORWALK, Conn. Joseph Edward Hliva of Norwalk died on May 13. He was 87.
He was born March 27, 1925 to George and Mary Gacik. His parents emigrated from Turany, Czechoslovakia, and settled in Byram. He was born and raised in the family home on Pemberwick Road.
He served with the U.S. Army during World War II, and at age 19 was deployed to the Pacific. While in New Guinea, he learned plumbing and continued that profession after the war with training at Wright Tech.
Hliva was a licensed plumbing and heating technician and a union member. He was nicknamed "Joe the Plumber" and liked to say that no job too big or too small. He always found time to help friends and neighbors with their plumbing problems.
He was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Byram and freely gave many years of service as plumber to the church. This past Easter, he drove to church for his final service.
His first wife, Anne Miller Hliva, died in 1971. He also was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Emil (Elizabeth); a sister Ann (Fred) Witek; and an aunt.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Rose Cassavechia Hliva, of Norwalk; a son, Joseph (Maureen) Hliva, Jr., of Greenwich; a daughter, Sharon Anne (Ronald) Lombardo, of Stamford; three stepsons, Gene (Ann), of Danbury, Donald (Shirley), of Norwalk and Anthony (Denise) Cassavechia, of Dallas, Texas; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; a nephew and a niece.
The wake will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Castiglione Funeral Home in Greenwich. A funeral service will he held at 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Byram. Burial will follow.
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