John J. Casey Jr. was born to Irish immigrant parents on June 6, 1923 in the Bronx, N.Y. and died June 7 at his home in Vineyard Haven. He was predeceased by his wife Marge, who died in 2005, and by his brothers Joe and Ed and his sister Anna.

He attended Morris High School in the Bronx. After moving to Connecticut he met Marge Gerathy, the woman who would be his wife for almost 59 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was involved in the invasions of Sicily and southern France. He was very proud of his service in the Navy.

Never an idle man, he served in the Bridgeport, Conn., fire department for 33 years, retiring as acting captain in 1979. He operated KC Painting Company throughout his years on the fire department and many years thereafter. Supporting six children wasn’t easy so he also worked as a handyman, taxi driver, and at whatever work he could find. Helping others was his hobby.

John and Marge moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1994 to join three of their children who had already moved to the Island. He became a born-again Christian at the age of 78 and was baptized at Lake Tashmoo.

John was a famous maker of spaghetti sauce. For many, many years, he would make his spaghetti sauce every Sunday morning and invite anyone and everyone to stop by in the afternoon for spaghetti and to join him in watching the football game. He loved to say that people came from far and wide to eat his sauce (actually they did). It always contained different ingredients and was the “best he ever made.”

He loved and was loved by many people including his six children and their spouses: Janice Casey and her life-partner Rita Brown of Edgartown, John and Mary Ellen Casey of Oak Bluffs, Nancy and Tom Barlosky of Vineyard Haven, Patty and Howie Horvath of West Haven, Ct., Margie and Val Pires of West Tisbury, and Jerry and Melissa Casey of Huntington, Ct.; his 16 grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, his caregivers, and friends from all walks of life.

His funeral service will be held today, Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m. in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs officiated by Pastors Mark Guilford and Marcia Buckley. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven with honors provided by the Veterans of Martha’s Vineyard and the Tisbury fire department.

Visiting hours were held Thursday, June 11 in the funeral home.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on June 27 at New Life Assembly Church, 28 Hedgehog Road in Trumbull, Ct. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs 02557 or Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 399 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.