LEWISTON – Joseph C. Bednarczyk, of Lewiston, 91, passed away on Jan. 1, at home after a long struggle with cancer.

A son of Polish immigrants, he was born in Salmon Falls, N.H. on June 7, 1913 to Ignacy and Katarzyna Badurek Bednarczyk.

He spent his youth in Pawtucket and Central Falls, R.I., where he attended the St. Joseph’s Polish School and Pawtucket High School.

In 1936, he relocated to Lewiston. He was employed by the former Bauer Hardware, Lewiston, for over 38 years where he managed the sporting goods department. He later worked for the former Johnson Insurance agency, Lewiston. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 where he served six years and attained the rank of sergeant.

He served throughout the United States and in Canada at St. John’s, Newfoundland, and at Mingan, Labrador with the 8th Weather Squadron.

Also, during World War II he soloed as a participant in an aviation program held at Colby College in Waterville.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, where he served on the scholarship committee.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of many Polish activities throughout the area. He was past president and an active member of the St. Stanislaus Mutual Aid Society of Lewiston (Polish Men’s Club). For 24 years, he served as president of the local chapter of the PNA, Polish National Alliance Lodge 3182. He was a member of the Lewiston-Auburn Twin Cities Chess Club, a division of the Maine Chess League. An ardent chess player, Joseph competed for many years in chess tournaments throughout Maine.

He was a lifelong skier and hiker who loved the Maine and New Hampshire mountains. A fond recollection of his youth was that of skiing into Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt. Washington.

A self-taught lifelong student, Joseph had a keen intellect and enjoyed many educational pursuits. A gregarious, genial man, he accumulated a wide circle of friends with whom he shared his varied interests.

He and his wife, Stephanie (Samocki), celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past September.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Paul, and wife, Donna, of Allentown, Penn., and their children, Greta, Eva and Andrew. He is also survived by a son, David, and his friend, Shari Tuthill, of Lake Jackson, Texas. Other survivors include a brother, Frank Bednarczyk, of Lewiston, and a sister, Helen Bednarczyk of East Providence, R.I.

He was predeceased by his parents, and one brother, Stanley.