ILION - Steven "Steve" D. Sadlon, age 91, of 6 Jefferson St., Ilion, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at home, after a short illness, with his loving family by his side. He was born on May 16, 1923, in Little Falls, the son of Paul and Anna (Duga) Sadlon, and graduated from Little Falls High School, class of 1941. On January 28, 1950, he was married to Helen Yaworski at the Russian Orthodox Church in Herkimer. He served in the US Navy as a 1st Class Radioman aboard numerous naval ships during both WW II and the Korean War and received three Purple Heart medals during his service. While serving on the LST 507 during Exercise Tiger, he was torpedoed in the English Channel and almost did not survive. Steven recovered just in time to participate in the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. Steven was one of last remaining survivors from Exercise Tiger and, prior to his passing, was interviewed by the BBC, NBC and numerous local newspapers regarding his experiences during this time period in history. Steve was a union carpenter for 50 years and was a member of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, retiring in 1985. He enjoyed all the building trades. After retirement, Steven remained busy caring for his home and apartment buildings in Ilion and Herkimer. Steven leaves many local monuments to his life as a tradesman. He would often point out things to his family located in schools, hospitals, bridges and other buildings that he had helped to build. He attended the Ilion United Methodist Church. Steven was a caring husband, father and grandfather who instilled strong traditional family values through his everyday actions. Survivors include his beloved wife, Helen P. (Yaworski) Sadlon, of Ilion, NY; one son, Richard John and his wife, Beth (Anderson) Sadlon, of Little Falls, NY; two grandchildren, Natasha (Sadlon) Forrester and her husband, Kenan Forrester, of Waterford, NY, and Jeffrey M. Sadlon, of Little Falls, NY; sisters-in-law, Katherine Sadlon, of Little Falls, NY, Nancy Hugick and her husband, Bernard, of Mohawk, NY, and Georgia Yaworski, of Carlisle, PA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his son, Steven M. Sadlon, in 2009; his brother, Paul F. Sadlon, Jr., in 2006; brothers-in-law, Mike Yaworski, of Carlisle, PA, Steve Yaworski and his wife, Cecelia, of Little Falls, NY, and Walter Yaworski and his wife, Francis, of Van Hornsville, NY; and sisters-in-law, Mary Valentine, of Canada, Ann Ostasz and her husband, John, of Little Falls, NY, Olga LeDuc Pavlock, of Little Falls, NY, and Joan Wilson Loiacano, of Little Falls, NY. Funeral services will be held 12 noon, Saturday, June 14, 2014, at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened location at 102 West St., Ilion, with Rev. Robert Wollaber, Pastor of Morning Star United Methodist Church, Ilion, officiating. Interment will be in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion, with full military rites. Calling hours are Saturday, June 14, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon prior to the funeral home service. The family would like to thank Hospice and sister-in-law, Georgia Yaworski, for their compassionate care and support given to him during his final days. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Steve, or add to his online memorial, may go to: www.applegateandday.com In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care, 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. The Sadlon family has entrusted all funeral arrangements and supervision to their family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.