Zbigniew Macur, 82, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 in Somerville, NJ. Born in Vilno, Poland, he was the son of the late Edmund and Genowefa Macur. After surviving the Nazi labor camps in Germany as a child, he moved to the United States with his family and briefly lived in Ville Platte, La., before moving to Manville, N.J. Eventually, he settled in a house he built himself, in Bridgewater, N.J., and lived there for 36 years.

As a young man, he was a soccer star, a formidable and dangerous striker on the Vistula Soccer team, a successful semi-professional squad filled with Polish immigrants. When he once scored on a searing shot from midfield, a green-eyed Polish brunette named Leokadia Busz took notice. In that moment, he won her over and she eventually became his wife.

Zbigniew was athletic, strong and matinee-idol handsome, and enjoyed sharing his love of sports and the outdoors with his family. He often took them camping, skiing and to the beach, and on Saturdays in summer was arguably the first to pitch his umbrella on the sands of the Jersey Shore. He also loved fast cars, playing the accordion and dancing the tango.

Zbigniew, whose formal education was interrupted by the war, was self-educated and exceptionally mechanically inclined. He started as a maintence worker at Houdaille Quarry, and worked his way up to senior diesel mechanic. Then, for 23 years, he repaired Caterpillar heavy equipment at Foley Machinery, in Piscataway, N.J., specializing in transmissions.

In the later years of his life, he was focused on being a Christian and spent much time studying the Bible. In the very end, when complications of Parkinson's disease finally overtook him after a brave, long battle, his family was comforted knowing that he went home to be with Jesus.

Besides his parents, Zbigniew was predeceased by a brother Wilhelm Macur, of Vilno, Poland, and a sister Janina Olejniczak, of Manville.

Zbigniew is survived by Leokadia, his devoted wife of 57 years; his adoring children, Dr. Richard Macur and wife Deborah, of Churchill, Montana, Christine Macur, of Somerville, N.J., and Juliet Macur and husband Dave Michaels, of Washington, D.C.; and his beloved sisters Irena Lewandowska, of Manville, and Halina Filipowicz, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

He also has three grandchildren: David Macur and wife Meghan; Daniel Macur; and Allegra Michaels. He also has great-grandchildren: Caleb and Hannah Macur, with another little Macur on the way.

Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing at Fucillo & Warren Funeral Home, 205 South Main Street, Manville, N.J.,08835 on Friday, November 13 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., and on Saturday, November 14, from 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 14 beginning 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a 9 a.m. funeral liturgy at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manville. Committal words and interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Hillsborough, N.J. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Zbigniew's name to the Polish Children's Heartline or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.