Benjamin J. Franko, 94, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2020 at Whispering Knolls Assisted Living, Edison, NJ.

Born and raised in Perth Amboy, NJ, Ben graduated from Perth Amboy High School in 1943 and was inducted in the US Army.  He served in the 83 ^rd Infantry Division in Europe with the rank of Sergeant.  He was severely wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, returned to the US and was rehabilitated in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC.   In addition to earning two Purple Hearts, Ben had the honor of meeting and shaking hands with President Truman.

Ben returned to Perth Amboy, where he met his future wife, Jeanette Kinal, who became a Registered Nurse. They married in August 1949 while Ben was completing his bachelor's degree in economics at Villanova University, graduating in 1950.

They moved to Metuchen, NJ, in 1952, where they raised their four children.  Ben worked as an Accountant at Mack Trucks Corporation for many years before retiring in 1988.

He and Jeanette enjoyed travelling and cruising and spending time with their grandchildren during their retirement.  They were parishioners of St. Francis Cathedral.   Jeanette passed away in December 2017. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage.

Ben is survived by his children, Robert and his wife, Patricia, of Metuchen; Joanne Lynn and her husband, Tom, of Mount Vernon, WA; Patti Lynn of Ephrata, PA, and her husband, John; and Michael and his wife, Christine, of Newtown, PA.  He also had nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Ben and the family were blessed to have Josh Sakyi as Ben's long-term caregiver and friend to the family.  The family is comforted that Josh was with Ben when he passed.

Ben will be lovingly remembered for sharing his stories with life lessons and service to his country.

Services are private through the Flynn and Son/Koyen Funeral Home, Metuchen, NJ.

Donations may be sent to Disabled American Veterans, 171 Jersey St, Bldg 5, Trenton, NJ 08611, www.davnj.org