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WESTPORT, Conn. John M. Bieling, Jr., 80, of Westport, died Friday, March 30, in Bridgeport Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Westport, he was born April 5, 1931, to the late John and Gertrude Bieling. A retired restauranteur, Beiling was a graduate of Staples High School and remained a lifelong supporter of Staples sports.
He was active in sports throughout his life, playing football in the early 1950s for the Advertisers and fast-pitch semi-professional softball for the Raybestos Cardinals. Beiling was inducted into the Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame and was also a member of the Laurel Athletic Club in Norwalk.
Beiling was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He rose to the rank of sergeant and received the Silver Star and the Combat Infantry Medal. He was a member of the American Legion Frank C. Godfrey Post 12 and the Joseph J. Clinton VFW Post 399. Beiling was also a life member of the Society of the Third Infantry Division.
Survivors include his sister, Catherine B. Fratino of Westport; his brothers, Edward F. Bieling of Fairfield, Gerald T. Bieling of Huntington and Donald J. Bieling of Norwalk and many nieces and nephews. Beiling was predeceased by his wife, Carol Digisi Bieling.
The family will receive friends at the Harding Funeral Home in Westport on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Assumption Church in Westport. Interment with full military honors will follow in Assumption Cemetery in Westport.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Staples High School Athletic Dept., c/o Marty Lisovek, athletic director, 70 North Ave., Westport, CT 06880.
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