Larry J. Valecz, 78, of Belvidere,   NJ, passed away on April 8, 2025 at home. Larry was born in Sussex, NJ and grew up in Dover, NJ, where he graduated from Dover High School in 1964.

After high school, he began working at Westinghouse Elevator Company until he was drafted and served in the United States Army from 1966-1968, and then honorably discharged. He then returned to Westinghouse, which later became Schindler Elevator Corporation, where he was active in the local IBEW chapter.  He retired from Schindler after 27 years.

He then moved to Lake Shawnee and worked part-time for Jefferson Township, NJ, until fully retiring and moving to Dover, DE, in 2008. He returned to New Jersey in 2013 and resided in Belvidere.

Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting, block shoots, and playing the slots at the casinos. He was a fan of football and westerns. He was known for his colorful and animated stories, and for being one of the luckiest guys anyone ever met.

Larry was predeceased by his wife Joyce (Vargas) in 2014. He was also predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Edith (Bush) Valecz; his sister, Kathleen Valecz; and his beloved golden retriever, Maggie.

He is survived by his daughters, Jodi Valecz (Jay) and Terri Finnegan (Mike); stepdaughter, Becky Gliganic (Matt); and grandchildren, Kira and Brady Finnegan.

Larry’s wish was to be cremated.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Charitable causes close to Larry’s heart, included: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial & Honor Program, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942, www.stjude.org, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, support.woundedwarriorproject.org and local animal shelters. If you would like to, please make a donation in his memory to any of these organizations.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. For those wishing to leave online condolences for the family, please visit, www.cochranfuneral.com.