Emmett E. Landiak,  a lifelong resident of Independence Twp,. NJ and lover of the outdoors, passed away, Sunday, December 10, 2023 in Hackettstown Medical Center, Hackettstown, NJ.  He was 91.

Emmett was born November 19, 1932, in Allamuchy NJ and attended a one room schoolhouse there.   He attended Hackettstown High School where he was an outstanding member of the famous Hackettstown Football Team.  He joined the Army on the GI Bill and drove a truck for Rick Rogers so he could attend college at  Rider University, earning a degree in Business and Finance.  During his career he also,  attended Rutgers University working towards an MPH in his continuing education.  He was employed for well over 30 years by first, the State of NJ as a public health official, going on to become the Health Officer of Warren County retiring in the early 90s.   Emmett loved the outdoors, both hunting, fishing, and hanging with the “gang”.   He was a longtime member of the Cat Hollow Gun Club and participated in many of their events. He enjoyed incredible trips to the North country of Canada in float planes landing in the Arctic circle, Alaska,  and the Bahamas, always in search of the “big one”.  These times are remembered and cherished with the wonderful friends he has known and loved throughout his adventurous and beautiful life. As Emmett slowed down, these wonderful friends did not leave his side.  His friend Wassil was invaluable with his knowledge of fixing anything, knack of finding misplaced objects, and being a chef and caregiver as Emmett stepped into the twilight of his life.  Emmett loved to garden.  He took pride in his meticulously kept lawn.  Many would see him riding his John Deer and give him a “wave.”  “Emmy” was loved and respected by so many that knew him.

Emmett is survived by his only daughter, Maria, who currently resides in Randolph , NJ . He was always very close with his daughter and as he aged, Maria was always there to arrange his medical care and make sure all the care was perfectly polished with the right doctors and proper meds. She stayed very close with her father and his care team to ensure he had the proper nutrition, and stuck to a discipline that would give him the best life possible.  His wife of  50 years, Elizabeth, passed on the same day,  10 December of 2013, where she called for him to come home to her exactly 10 years to the day, after her passing.  Emmett also has two beautiful grandchildren, David and Marissa who were his favorite twins and now both reside in Hockessin, DE.  He loved David and “Rissy” with all his heart and will look down on them to guide them forever.  The children adored their Grandpa and he will be marked in their hearts forever never to forget his warmth and warm smile when he saw them.

Emmett has many nieces and nephews all over the country as he was from a family of 8 brothers and sisters.  He loved talking to his brother “Dr. Joe” daily just to keep him and check and chat about the day, celebrating birthdays with his brother Nick with a phone toast.  His niece Karen brightened his heart with her warm smile and irreplaceable pictures of times long ago on the family farm.  A different time and a different place, his life and the life of many relatives from his childhood past, now etched into the memory of the stillness of film, time now stands still.  Emmett will be so sadly missed.

Emmett was predeceased by his parents Paul Landiak and Anna Kurylo Landiak, his sisters, May Budnik, Helen Proto, Olga Ferriaoulo, and his brothers, Nicholas Landiak, George Landiak, and Raymond Landiak.

A celebration and remembrance of his life will be held at Cochran’s Funeral Home, 905 High St, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 .  Viewing will be Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 4 to 8,  followed by the funeral on Friday the 15^th of December at 11 at Cochran’s then to the Pequest Union Cemetery.