Obituary of Stephen Cirkot

Cirkot- Stephen Cirkot, 92, a lifelong resident of Shelton, entered eternal rest on Thursday 11/8/12. Stephen was the son of Ukrainian immigrants Alex and Eva Plaskon Cirkot.He was raised by Alex and Mary Klancko Cirkot, following Eva's death in his infancy.He is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Stephania Nyscot Cirkot. Stephen was a loving and devoted husband and father. He made his family's needs his top priority in life. He provided comfort through his hard work and kind, pleasant spirit. He will be forever loved and cherished. Stephen's lifelong hobby was boating. It started as a child with a cardboard boat he made and used in his backyard playground on the Housatonic River. It progressed to power boating he enjoyed at his cottages at Cedar Beach, Milford. It ended with shell rowing which he embraced well into his eighties, on the same river. Woodworking, carpentry, walking, gardening and travel fulfilled his long and happy retirement. Stephen was a lifetime member of St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church where he participated in the choir, served as an usher and was a member of the Catholic War Veterans, Post 1677. He was also active in the Shelton Senior Center, where he performed as the drummer in their band. Stephen was a 1939 graduate of Bullard Haven Technical School and was a skilled machinist. He served in the US Army 52nd Armored, Infantry Nine Division as a half track sight gunner and interpreter in the Ardennes Forest, Germany. This unit was honored for it's Rhine River crossing into Remagen. He retired from a 31 year career at Sikorsky Aircraft as a foreman in the milling and lathe department. His department made the precision crafted rotor blades for helicopters used in the Vietnam War era. He was recognized for his process changing/efficiency contributions. Upon his retirement, he then became a machinist instructor at the Bridgeport Labor Council. His daughters and son-in-laws Carol and Joseph Stumpf of Monmouth Maine and Sylvia and Frederick Foster of St. Petersburg Florida survive him. His Grandsons Stephen J. and Joseph Stumpf reside in Tucson, Arizona. His bothers and sisters predeceased him, Samuel and John Cirkot; Ann Walters Williams, Ann and Mildred Cirkot. Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM from the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 105 Clifton Ave., Ansonia, at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Derby. Family and friends may call on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Panikhida at 6:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Preservation Fund of Sts. Peter and Paul Church or to Echo Hose Ambulance, 286 Howe Avenue, Shelton, CT 06484. Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.