Joseph M. Leoniec, 89, of Lawrenceville, died on Friday at Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton, surrounded by his family.

Born in Mt. Carmel, Pa., and a former resident of East Trenton, Mr. Leoniec had been a Lawrenceville resident for the past 47 years. He was an Army veteran of WWII and served in Naples-Foggia, the North Apennines, the Po Valley, Rome-Arno and Tunisia. He was awarded the American Defense Service medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern service medal and the Good Conduct medal.

A master builder who worked for Albert Chmiel in Lawrenceville, Mr. Leoniec built many of the homes in the community, including the home in Lawrenceville where he and his wife raised their family.

Son of the late Peter and Michaelina Kulak Leoniec and brother of the late John and Anthony Leoniec and Mary Cermele, he is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Sophie Ciarka Leoniec, his two daughters, Patricia Leoniec and Janice Zulla and her husband Salvatore, and his grandson Michael Zulla and his wife Caitlin. Also surviving is his sister-in-law, Alice Kasprzak of Trenton, his brother-in-law Joseph Ciarka and his wife Leah of Robbinsville, and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. There will be no calling hours. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Greenwood House, 50 Walter Street, Ewing, NJ 08628, www.greenwoodhouse.org or The Faith Development Center, The Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville.