Michael "Mike" Piascik, aged 103, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones. Mike was born in Garfield, NJ to Joseph and Sophie (née Dziadura) on September 27, 1922. He was the youngest of five sons, Frank "Lefty," Theodore, Alexander, and Edward "Spike," and older brother to sister, Emily (Hess).

Mike graduated from Garfield High School where he excelled at sports, especially basketball and baseball. He went on to proudly serve in the US Army in World War II from 1943 to 1945 with Company A of the 88th Engineer Battalion stationed on a British Airforce base in Liverpool, England. He then served out his deployment in Marseille, France.

After returning from war, Mike joined his father and brothers, working at Raybestos Manhattan Rubber as a forklift operator. He continued to excel at sports on Manhattan Rubber's Department 38 championship softball and basketball teams. Mike was elected to serve several terms as Manhattan Rubber Union Delegate-at-Large. His children (and later his grandchildren and great grandchildren) would enjoy using his green "Vote for Michael Piascik" campaign pencils in school.

He was a long-time member of the Garfield Jinx Men's Social Club and served as a fireman in Garfield Volunteer Fire Department #5. An avid bowler, Mike was an American Bowling League Conference Champion.

Manhattan Rubber also played a significant part in Mike's life because it was here that he met his future wife, Anne (née Raczkowski). Mike and Anne wed in 1951. In 1955, they became lifelong residents of Clifton, NJ, where they raised their three children. Mike had quite the "green" thumb; he tended to a bountiful vegetable garden, grew the most delicious tomatoes, and took pride in cultivating shrubs and maintaining his lawn and flowers. He also was a very creative and talented artist who enjoyed drawing and painting.

After Manhattan Rubber closed, Mike began a new career as a toll collector on the NJ Turnpike (Exit 16W), where his strong work ethic earned him the nickname Iron Mike. He retired in 1989, but the dream of a Florida retirement was cut short by his wife, Anne's sudden passing in May 1990. In addition to his parents, siblings, and wife, Mike was predeceased by his companion, Rita Duva, who passed away in 2021.

Michael is survived by his and Anne's three children: Adele, and her husband, Michael Merson; Joseph, and his wife, Barbara; and Carol, and her husband, Nelson Montero. He is also survived by his 10 beloved grandchildren, Rachel (Nathan) Lambright, David (Kimberly) Merson, Jill (Sean) Mueller, Albert (Alexis) Piascik, Joseph Paul (Melody) Piascik, Christine (Alexander) McKenzie, John (Christina) Piascik, Luke Piascik, Anne Montero (Dean Kullmann), and Matthew Montero, his 13 cherished great grandchildren (Alexander and Theodore Lambright; Wade, Tallulah and Abram Merson; Jonah Mueller; Isabelle and Stella Piascik; Madison and Jack McKenzie; and Nicholas, William, and Anneliese Piascik), and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

Memorial Gathering Sunday, January 18, 2026, 2-4PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. A Prayer Service will begin at 3PM. Cremation was private.

Michael's remains will be laid to rest with his wife in East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.

In lieu of flowers, donation made to either Holy Cross PNC Church, 220 Browertown Rd., Woodland Park, NJ 07424, www.HolyCrossSite.org , or the NJ Veterans Home of Paramus, 1 Veterans Way, Paramus, NJ 07652, in memory of Michael, would be greatly appreciated.