Edward J. Wojcik

Master Sergeant Edward John Wojcik Jr. (Ret), 69, passed away peacefully on December 24th, 2025 in Plattsburgh, NY, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, kindness, and dedication. Born on September 21, 1956 in Ticonderoga, he was the beloved child of Edward Wojcik Sr. and Anna Wojcik (Thatcher).

Ed is survived by his mother Anna Wojcik (Thatcher), daughters Nicole Lemm (Jim) and Tanya Muth (Darius), grandsons Trevor, Brock, and Mason, Suzie (Ed’s sister Dianne) Harvish (Joe), brothers Jeff Wojcik (Becky) and Steve Wojcik (Chrissy), and many cherished nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by father Edward Wojcik Sr., sister Wendy Wojcik, and brother Jimmy Wojcik.

Ed was one of those rare souls who leaves a permanent imprint on everyone lucky enough to know him. Brilliant without ever needing to announce it, delightfully quirky in ways that caught you off guard and made you smile, and strong beyond measure. Ed embodied a quiet depth of character that cannot be overstated. Above all else, he was the bravest man his family has ever known.

Born in Ticonderoga, New York, Ed was a local boy through and through. He graduated from Moriah Central High School, Class of 1974, and never stopped learning from that day forward. Over the course of his life, he accumulated roughly twelve years of post-secondary education, attending numerous colleges and earning more certifications than anyone could reasonably keep track of. Family legend suggests he may also have held an honorary—or possibly secret—doctorate in mad science, as evidenced by his boundless curiosity, inventive mind, and uncanny ability to fix, build, or explain just about anything.

Ed proudly served his country as a member of the United States military, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. His nearly 22 years of service reflected his unwavering dedication, discipline, and sense of duty. He served with honor, professionalism, and integrity, earning the respect of those who served beside him and the gratitude of the nation he loved. While his military accomplishments were significant, Ed rarely spoke of them—choosing instead to let his actions, not his words, define his service.

Though he was a veteran, the hardest battles Ed ever fought were not on foreign soil. In recent years, he faced immense personal and health challenges—trials that would have broken many. He met them instead with grit, humor, stubborn determination, and a quiet strength that humbled and inspired those who witnessed it. His courage in these moments stands as one of his greatest legacies.

After 29 years of marriage, Ed returned home to the Adirondacks to do what he loved most: maintaining trails and caring for the land that had shaped him. In the woods, with a tool in hand and no need for recognition, he found peace and purpose. His work there, like so much of his life, was done selflessly—leaving things better than he found them.

Ed was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the paths he cleared—both literal and figurative—and the example he set of resilience, humility, and unwavering love for family and country.

A service to honor Ed’s life will be held at 1pm on Sunday December 28th, 2025 at Spirit Sanctuary, 304 Cook Rd, Essex NY 12936.  A celebration of life will follow at 3pm at the VFW Post 5802, in Mineville, NY.

Flowers and condolences can be sent to Harland Funeral Home, or in Ed’s honor, donations can be made to Champlain Area Trails (CATS), a cause dear to his heart, at champlainareatrails.com

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