Obituary of William J. Callahan

William J. Callahan, Jr. of Hackettstown, NJ, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the age of 91. Bill was born in Newark, NJ, on October 31, 1924 to Mary (nee Carroll) and William Callahan, Sr. Bill had lived in Irvington, Montclair and West Orange prior to moving to Hackettstown. Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army during the landing at Normandy in Operation Overlord. He was awarded a Purple Heart, and the EAME with four bronze stars for action in France and Germany, which included the Battle of the Bulge. He was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the New Jersey Distinguished Service Award. Bill was a part of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized. He was honorably discharged from the Army in November 1945 at the rank of Technical Sergeant. He was a Disabled American Veteran, a past member of the O'Hara Association and volunteered as an adult altar server at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, West Orange for many years. Bill was the owner and operator of William J. Callahan Jr. Painting. Bill was predeceased by his siblings. He is survived by his cousins Sharon Treacy, Thomas Treacy and his wife Suzan, Brian Treacy and his wife Virginia, Patricia Treacy, and Pamela Drury, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Of the many memories they all share of Bill, the most iconic is the hand-drawn image he would use as his calling sign, which was drawn on anything he could get his hands on. To Kieran, Nolan, Sean and Jamie Drylie, Bill was an important part of their lives, teaching them many of life's lessons. Visitation will be held at the Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main Street, West Orange, NJ, on Wednesday morning, August 10th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, NJ. Interment will be in his family plot in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Bloomfield, NJ. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in William's name to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, West Orange.