John Edmund Kalie

John Edmund Kalie, 94, of Laurel, Maryland passed away peacefully under the full moon on October 28, 2023.  He was born in 1929 to John Andrew Kalie and Margret Ann Miazga (Nyugen).  John is survived by his son Edmund and loving daughter in law Nancy, grandchildren Alex and Christine; siblings Betty Mazonkey, Bernie, Robert and Andrew Kalie and the families of (deceased) Siblings Joseph and Alex Kalie, Eleanor Chopper, Mary Chappato and the many cousins, nephews, nieces, grand nieces, and nephews as well as the distant families of his mother and father. 

                John was born on April 23, 1929, on a farm in Shickshinny, PA. where he grew up tending the fields, raising livestock, and huckstering the produce of the farm.  He attended a one room school and at age 15 started working in the coal mines and at a local nursery before being called to serve his Country during the Korean war, where he served at the Central Command. Returning home, he lived with his Uncle Ted and Viola Miazga in College Park and attended the University of Maryland, joining the Alpha Zeta and Alpha Gamma Roe fraternities and obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Agriculture.  Moving on to take up the teaching profession, he did student teaching in College Park, Maryland where he met Jennie Lee Cross, the love of his life.  He would often stop by on his Good Humor route to make special deliveries.  John and Jennie Lee tied the knot in 1958 at her Southern home in Suffolk, Virginia and moved to Laurel, Maryland, buying a home in West Laurel to raise a family. John and Jennie Lee took employment with the Prince George's County Board of Education where he worked at the Laurel Junior High School when it opened, spending his career as a wood shop teacher until the school closed, moving him to Laurel Senior High and then Bladensburg High School.  In 1974 John received a Master of Education degree from Bowie State College. 

                During the early years he worked as a manager at the Food Fair in Laurel and participated with the Laurel Trap and Skeet Club.  He took great passion in farming, sometimes up to 4 acres, in the suburban neighborhood, often being scolded by Jennie Lee for giving away the best vegetables to neighbors and friends.  John and Jennie Lee's son Edmund had to be on his best behavior, as they were often aware of community activities, good and bad, due to their many respected acquaintances, friends, and informants.  Through this connection many people on the street recognized John's teaching career for putting their life on the right path. After retiring from the Prince George's County Board of Education he worked with Jennie Lee on many volunteer projects including the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Community Center, the Laurel Museum/ Historical Society, Liberty Grove UMC Adult Fellowship/Sunday School Teacher and the Greater Laurel Hospital Auxiliary, receiving many service awards. During retirement they enjoyed shopping and had a routine to visit every grocery and club store making heartfelt friends along the way. John and Jennie Lee documented many Laurel events through his video camera and shared them with the Laurel Cable Network. We should all hope to strive to John's strengths, altruistic spirit, observational abilities, service to others and kindness. He will be missed.

                Services will be held at Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866, on November 11, 2023 (Veterans Day - he was a proud Veteran) at 3:00 P.M.  Interment will be with Jennie Lee at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, VA, date to be announced. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations in John's name to the Laurel Senior Friendship club, the Laurel Museum, the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, or Liberty Grove United Methodist Church.

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