JOSEPH J. OWSIANKA was born to Agnes and John Owsianka of 1563 Norris Street in Camden NJ. His parents had come to America in 1914. The family lived in Chester PA at the time of the 1920 census. By 1930 the family, which included brothers Frank, Alfred, and Edward, had moved to the Norris Street address in Camden, where John Owsianka worked as a butcher in a slaughterhouse. Joseph Owsianka was raised in Camden NJ. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. His brother, Frank J. Owsianka drowned in an accident while serving near Townsville, Queensland, Australia on March 1, 1944 while serving with the United States Army. After returning to Camden from the service, Joseph Owsianka went into business. In the late 1940s, he became the co-owner of a bar that had been known as Bussie's Cafe, at 1400 Sheridan Street, the corner of Sheridan and Pershing Street, in South Camden, sometime after 1947. The bar that he co-owned and operated was known as Martin & Owens Bar, Joseph Owsianka being known as "Owens". The bar remained open under that name until the late 1960s. Since the 1980s it has been known as the All Nations Lounge. Joseph Owsianka was later employed for 20 years as a postal clerk at the Bellmawr Post Office and was a member of the American Postal Workers Union. In the late 1960s he moved from Camden to West Berlin NJ. Joseph J. Owsianka passed away on July 24, 2003. He was buried at St. Joseph's cemetery in Chews Landing NJ on July 28, 2003. |
Camden Courier-Post - July 26, 2003 |
OWSIANKA,
'OWENS' |