JCPenney Manager, Navy Vet And Longtime Ridgewood Resident Dies At 92

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A JCPenney merchandise operations manager who lived in Ridgewood for 50 years and was active in the community passed away peacefully this week, an obituary published by Vander Plaat Funeral Home said.

A Navy veteran of the Korean War, Joseph Bade, of Midland Park, died Tuesday at age 92. He was a member of American Legion Post 53 in Ridgewood, and a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the village as well, his obituary said.

Bade was a supply and disbursing officer operating with a Marine Division, and was later a contractor for the Navy purchasing office. He joined the Naval reserve at 17 years old and retired after 20 years.

After active duty, he became a buyer for the Navy Exchange.

He later enjoyed a 30-year career with JCPenney, first as a buyer, then a merchandise manager, and ending as a merchandise operations manager in the New York headquarters, his obituary said.

Bade is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor, whom he was engaged to four months after meeting her, as it was "love at first sight," the obituary said. He married her shortly afterward.

As a father to three children and "Pop-Pop" to six grandchildren, family was important to him, and he was always working on home improvement projects, his obituary said. He was active with the Boy Scouts and enjoyed sailing his Sunfish sailboat at Shepherd Lake in Ringwood.

Born and raised in Jersey City, Bade attended the University of Idaho, where he was a member of the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He was also a season ticket holder for the New York Giants.

"(Bade) was always upbeat with positive energy, a big heart and great advice drawn from years of experience," his obituary said. "He will be missed dearly by so many."