Obituary of Ivan Ivahnenko

Hopewell Township: Ivan "John" Ivahnenko passed away peacefully at home with family on June 19, 2023 in Hopewell NJ. Born to Mykola and Agafia Ivahnenko on November 13 1932 in Zuravne, Poltava, Ukraine, he was the first of five children. John experienced World War II before he was a decade old, fleeing Ukraine, the Nazis and Russian Army with his family through Europe, then immigrating to Brazil once the War ended. Finally receiving government clearance, the family immigrated again to the United States in 1957, settling in Trenton NJ.  Having served in the United States Army as an interpreter of intercepted Russian coded messages during the Korean War, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist Sergeant. John retired after 46 years from McGraw-Hill Publishing Company in 2009, completing his career as Director of International Services. In addition to English, the fluency in four other languages (Ukrainian, Russian, German, and Portuguese), provided a great fit for his final position in the company. During his career with McGraw-Hill, John was able to visit a number of global offices in a variety of countries including Australia, Singapore, Guatemala, and Mexico. Not sitting still long, John had a number of hobbies and activities that ranged from keeping an apiary, having three rental properties in Trenton, NJ and refereeing junior high and high school level soccer games. To make the rentals truly profitable, John took night classes for certification as a plumber and electrician, which benefited him and others for the rest of his life. In addition to all the other activities that kept him busy, John always found time to help family and friends, whether it was harvesting crops and baling hay at his in-law’s dairy farm, doing minor house repairs for elderly Ukrainians or providing entrepreneurial or building construction advice and suggestions to new immigrants. John is survived by his wife of 60+ years Sonia, and two daughters and sons-in-law, Tamara Ivahnenko and Rick Clawges of Pueblo CO, Lucia and Mark Turi of Littleton CO; one son and daughter-in-law Victor and Linda Ivahnenko of Midlothian, TX; siblings and spouses Anna and Anthony Pogribnichenko of East Brunswick, NJ and Alexander Ivahnenko and Valerie Hallgreen of Palm Coast, FL; sister-in-law Lidia Ivahnenko of Roebling, NJ. Fifteen nieces and nephews called him Uncle John. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Lydia Ivahnenko-DaCunha of San Paulo, Brazil and brother Mykola "Nick" Ivahnenko of Roebling, NJ. John always gave generously from the heart, and will be truly missed. Funeral services will be held 9:00 AM Saturday at St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 839 Yardville Allentown Road, Yardville with Very Rev. Petro Levko officiating. Friends may call Saturday from 8:30 AM until the time of service at the church. Interment will be in St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, South Bound Brook. The family requests memorial donations are made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011. Condolences may be sent to www.koschekandporterfuneralhome.com