Henry Wiesner

Henry Wiesner, age 102, passed Thursday, April 9, 2020.

Henry was born in Paterson, raised for several years at 234 Totowa Road in Totowa, before the family moved to Paterson where he graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1936.

Just out of high school Henry found work as a bookkeeper for the Manhattan Shirt Company in Prospect Park.  He also served as a bookkeeper for Charles Minter’s Appliance Company in Haskell.  Henry was called to serve just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the US Army during WWII and was stationed in Hawaii for much of his service.  During his service he served as a bookkeeper and accountant for a medical division.

Upon his honorable discharge he returned to Paterson where he found work as a bookkeeper for Saint Joseph’s Hospital in the city.  He worked for Saint Joseph’s Hospital for over fifty years having worked as an engineer for building maintenance, reviewing construction contracts, and was finally a Facility Planner when he retired in 1995 at the age of 77.  He truly loved his work and continued to work for the hospital for another three years with no salary.

Henry lost his loving wife Elsie in 1972 and found love and companionship with a co-worker at the hospital named Marge Austin.  They became dear friends, traveling, spending holidays together, and enjoying each other’s families, for over thirty years before Marge’s passing.  Oh how he loved their trips to Aruba or going on a cruise once he was retired.

Those who knew Henry will remember him as a meticulous, organized, loving man who was quiet in demeanor but steadfast in conviction and made a difference in many lives without any fanfare or desire to be thanked. He was a Mr. Fix-It when it came to just about anything. He was a regular at the Wayne Public Library as he was a voracious reader with a thirst for knowledge, sometimes reading three books a week. He always tried to stay in good physical shape and up until 2016 would ride his stationary bike just about every day.  He was very independent and lived on his own until 99 years young.  In fact, he drove until the age of 98.

Henry was the loving husband of the late Elsie Wiesner (1972); he was the loving companion of the late Marge Austin for over thirty years; he was the devoted father of Jeffrey Wiesner of Flagstaff, AZ; dear brother of the late Edna Kammerer and the late Paul Wiesner; he was the loving uncle of MaryLou Baisch and her late husband Charles (2015).  He was also the much loved great-uncle (known to each as “Unc) to Jane and Gerry Harlan, Laurie and William Roemer, Judy and James Bakonyi, Diane and George Axberg; great-great uncle to Jenny and Chris McGillick, Justin and Brooke Harlan, Kristin and Matt Saskowitz, Sarah and John Hendrickson, Jenna and William Leib, Canel Axberg and Summer Axberg; and great-great-great uncle to Cash and Weston Harlan and Kaleigh and Dylan McGillick.

Throughout the years, Henry was also very close to Marge’s family which included her children Barbara and Louis Vecchione, William and Linda Austin, and Robert and Jo-anne Austin; their children Todd and Rebecca Vecchione, Chris and Leah Vecchione, Amanda and Christopher Austin, Allison (Henry’s God Daughter), Sarah, Elizabeth and Emily Austin; and their great grandchildren Elizabeth Rose Vecchione and Michael and Sarah Vecchione.  

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503 would be appreciated.