Joseph John Durna (84) of Hackettstown, (Independence Township), NJ died on Sunday April 28th in Atlantic Health Hospital Morristown, NJ.

Joe was born in Washington DC on January 28, 1940. He was the son of the late John W. and Lurene M. (Hartman) Durna. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his son Raymond Joseph Durna in 1969.

Joe graduated from Hackettstown High School in 1959. He was a member of the 1959 Hackettstown Tiger Football team who went on to become Group 1 State Champs.

He was employed by Jersey Central Power and Light for 41 years where he started as a lineman, retiring on February 28, 2002 as lineman chief.

Joe served as a volunteer with the Hackettstown First Aid Squad before transferring to the Independence First Aid Squad where he earned Life Member.

He was an Assistant Scout Leader of Boy Scout Troop 148. He was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 138 and was proud to have six Scouts go on to earn their Eagle Award including his son, John.

Joe was a member of the Mansfield Masonic Lodge 36 F&AM for over 50 years.

Joe loved working on his antique cars and was a member of the New Jersey Region AACA for 25 years and a member of the Early Ford V-8 Club.  He was also a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America. He loved the time he spent going on car tours and displaying his cars with the other members.

He was an avid deer hunter and never missed a week of hunting in Berlin, Pennsylvania at his aunt’s, hunting with his uncle and cousins.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for 17 years.

He is survived by his wife Carole A. (Potts), daughter Rebecca Lyn Durna-Hunsinger, son Joseph John Durna III and wife Elisabete, and son John Roland Durna as well as his seven grandchildren, Madeline, Benjamin, Kathryn, Aidan, Colin, Leandro and Hunter.

Visitation will be held at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ on Friday, May 3 from 10 am – 11 am, services beginning at 11 am with Rev. Don Gebhard officiating.  Burial will be at Pequest Union Cemetery, Great Meadows following the service.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Independence First Aid Squad, Independence Township Fire Department or Trinity United Methodist Church.

James Cochran is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: My Meeting
Time: May 3, 2024 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81576549563?pwd=qGvdcZNtMrQ1t7fCexLCinQPDPSxb8.1

Meeting ID: 815 7654 9563
Passcode: 463250