OBITUARY
Emil Joseph Schoonejans, TM2(SS)

World War 2 submarine veteran, Holland Club member and Perch Base Life member Emil Joseph Schoonejans passed onto Eternal Patrol June 1, 2023, at age 98. Our condolences to his children Lynn, Laura and Mitch, and grandchild Coral (Jon) Sololowski.
Emil was born February 24, 1925, in West Hoboken, New Jersey. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at age 16, and immediately went to work on submarine relief crews. He was later assigned as crew on the USS Burrfish (SS‑312) and earned the War Patrol medal for participation in the Burrfish's 4th, 5th and 6th War Patrols in the South Pacific. He returned to Pearl Harbor from the Burrfish's final War Patrol and then rode the Burrfish to Portsmouth Navy Yard for a major overhaul, arriving June 19. 1945.
Emil then left the Navy on February 1, 1946.
Follow this LINK to view a one-hour interview of Emil recorded by the "Digital Collections of the National WWII Museum."

Following his Submarine Service, Emil Joseph Schoolejans graduated from the Academy of Aeronautics and launched a successful career in aviation as a flight cremember on TWA Constellations, 727's, and 747's. He was Director of Flight Training at JFK and a Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
He was also President of the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII Runner Chapter in New York (SVWWII card #12737); A Free Mason; Shriner of El Zaribah in Phoenix, AZ; and friend of St. John's Episcopal Church, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
Beloved husband of the late Edna (RN). Loving father of Lynn, Laura and Mitch. Cherished grandfather of Coral (Jon) Sololowski. Emil loved home, family, woodworking, golf, swimming and being a friend to all.

Regarding the Perch Base Submarine Veterans in Phoenix, AZ, Emil was awarded the Holland Club membership in May 2004 as shown in the photograph from our newsletter. He and Billy Grieves, another WWII submarine veteran who previously passed on Eternal Patrol were the Grand Marshals for the Anthem Daisy Mountain Veteran's Day Parade in 2008. Unfortunately we have no photos of that parade. The last Perch Base meeting Emil attended was in November 2015, then he returned to Huntington, New York, to be with familly.

A memorial service was held June 12, 2023.