James “Bud” Makowicki, 85 of Sandy Hook, beloved husband of his devoted wife of 60 years Priscilla (Bean) Makowicki, died March 9th at River Glenn Health facility in Southbury. He was born December 30th, 1930 in Norwich CT, where he was raised along with 13 other brothers and sisters.
Along with his beloved wife he is survived by son Stephen and wife Alejandra of Reading PA, Daughter Sandee and partner Elliot of Chicago IL and Son Wayne and fiancée LoriAnn of New Milford , along with sister Eleanor of Mystic and Grandchildren Matthew, Melissa, Curtis and Tia Makowicki along with many nieces and nephews.
MR. Makowicki attended Norwich Free Academy where he was an avid runner and earned many medals along with a state championship in the 1 mile race. He met his wife Priscilla and married her 1956. He then served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He went on to attend Philadelphia Museum College of Art and earned a degree in Industrial design. He was employed at Curtis Packaging in Sandy Hook for 20 years as manager of the design department. He then went on to start his own company Packaging Concepts where he worked until he retired.
He was a passionate wood worker and a do it yourselfer that earned the nickname the “woodchuck” who enjoyed teaching his craft to others. He especially enjoyed working with children and taught several free wood working classes for children at area libraries on his weekends. He designed and built many wooden toys and wrote 2 books on making Heirloom wooden toys. He also was loved by his neighborhood “Bud” designed and built 2 award winning floats for the Newtown Labor day parade, working alongside neighborhood children and friends. He and Priscilla loved music and when his children were young hosted neighborhood Christmas sing-along’s recording it all on his “state of the art” reel to reel tape deck and in later years going to see Live Jazz and dancing with his wife and friends. Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown Saturday March 12 from1:00 to 3:00pm. A Prayer Service will take place at 3:00pm. Interment in Newtown Village Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association lbda.org 404-935-6444 or National Parkinson Foundation parkinson.org 800-473-4636.To leave an online condolence visit www.honanfh.com

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