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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Irwin L. Nordhausen, age 88, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 4, 2016.
Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, he was a graduate of Belleville High School. Shortly after graduation, Irwin got a job with NJ Bell and went on to enjoy a forty-two year career with the company as a technician. By the time he retired in 1989, NJ Bell had become Bell Atlantic. Always ready to help others in times of need, he also proudly served for many years as a member of the U.S. National Guard.
Irwin was the proud and loving father of two children. His daughter Barbara was born in 1959 and, during her childhood Irwin took great interest in her involvement in the 4-H Club, supporting her in the care of her horses and being present for all of her riding competitions. His son Mark entered into Irwin’s life in 1960. When he was old enough, Irwin introduced him to the world of hunting – a sport he himself loved so very much. He also encouraged young Mark to join the PAL rifle team and was always there to cheer him on at Mark’s competitive shoots. To this day, Mark has a keen interest in hunting and the shooting sports instilled in him by his father Irwin’s influence.
After his first marriage ended Irwin found love one evening at an after-work get-together attended by other NJ Bell employees. Her name was Phyllis DePalma and this first encounter took place on St. Patrick’s Day. Drawn in by Irwin’s engaging personality and wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful relationship was born and it ultimately led to marriage on Saturday, June 19, 1976 at the United Methodist Church in Wayne followed by a honeymoon cruise. To commemorate that they met on St. Patrick’s Day, from that time forward, whenever Irwin gave Phyllis flowers, he always made sure there was at least one green flower in the bouquet. As a further example of his romantic nature, Irwin always made sure that for each wedding anniversary, he gave Phyllis one red rose for each year married. Of course the rose or roses always included one green flower and her latest bouquet included forty red roses and a green flower. Irwin and Phyllis were blest with a warm and special married life. One of the ways they expressed their love was by poking fun at each other a lot but, as Phyllis said, “Irwin loved me like nobody else could!” They got to travel all over the world including to destinations such as Europe, South America, on many cruises and, at least one month every winter to Florida where Irwin always made sure to book a place with an ocean view. No one could ever really understand why though because he always seemed to take a lot of naps, and it’s hard to see the ocean when your eyes are always closed.
Irwin was also a man drawn to the world of art and particularly to the expression of art through the genres of music and dance. Already as a young teen in high school, he loved to dance. His taste in music was wide and varied from the love of Frank Sinatra to Luciano Pavarotti but he also enjoyed country songs as well as different ethnic forms like Spanish and German music. One of his favorite places to dance was at the German clubs and Irwin was a member of two different ones; Deutscher Club of Clark, NJ where he had recently received his pin commemorating 25 years of faithful and loyal membership. At the Deutscher Club Irwin was always ready to roll up his sleeves and help wherever help was needed. There he enjoyed weekly dinners and dancing with Phyllis as well as annual Sommerfest and Octoberfest events. He was also a long-time member of the Germania Park Club of Dover, or the “Deutscher Shul-und Gesangverein” as they called it - the German School and Singing Society. It was a German-American cultural club that was established in 1895. At these clubs he could combine the things that gave him the most enjoyment in life – being with other people and dancing at events like Biergartenfests, Oktoberfests, Schlachtfests, and German Christmas shows to name a few.
Irwin enjoyed hunting and found the best challenge in hunting small birds called grouse. Grouse are not the easiest prey but Irwin was a skilled hunter. In fact, one year he took down 22 grouse – an unheard of number! He was a member of the Waughaw Valley Sportsman’s Club where he also enjoyed pheasant hunting. He raised his own beagles for hunting rabbit and field trials. When he wasn’t hunting or dancing, Irwin loved to read, especially books about the Civil War. He was a real buff on that subject. His family used to poke fun at him describing how he could go into great detail about Civil War accounts but he couldn’t remember what Phyliss said to him five minutes ago.
As you can see, Irwin was blessed with a great life. He loved life and he loved people. His wide array of interests, warm engaging demeanor, and wonderful sense of humor enabled him to make friends with perfect strangers and he also learned a lot from those countless encounters. Rest in Peace Irwin! You will be forever cherished in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known you.
Irwin is survived by his beloved wife of forty years – Phyllis; his daughter Barbara and husband Thomas Anthony Pfeffer of Mooresville, NC; his son Mark Nordhausen of Butler; three dear grandchildren: Tommy James, Jade Alexa, and Luke Anthony; twin brother William and wife Dolores Nordhausen of Bluffton, SC; sister Jane Saarloos of Anderson, SC; nieces and nephews: Alexis Laguer, Genaro Laguer, Dr. Artemio Perez, Jr., Dr. Sergio Perez; sister-in-law Alberta Perez; and brother-in-law Artemio Perez.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Irwin L. Nordhausen, age 88, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 4, 2016.
Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, he was a graduate of Belleville High School. Shortly after graduation, Irwin got a job with NJ Bell and went on to enjoy a forty-two year career with the company as a technician. By the time he retired in 1989, NJ Bell had become Bell Atlantic. Always ready to help others in times of need, he also proudly served for many years as a member of the U.S. National Guard.
Irwin was the proud and loving father of two children. His daughter Barbara was born in 1959 and, during her childhood Irwin took great interest in her involvement in the 4-H Club, supporting her in the care of her horses and being present for all of her riding competitions. His son Mark entered into Irwin’s life in 1960. When he was old enough, Irwin introduced him to the world of hunting – a sport he himself loved so very much. He also encouraged young Mark to join the PAL rifle team and was always there to cheer him on at Mark’s competitive shoots. To this day, Mark has a keen interest in hunting and the shooting sports instilled in him by his father Irwin’s influence.
After his first marriage ended Irwin found love one evening at an after-work get-together attended by other NJ Bell employees. Her name was Phyllis DePalma and this first encounter took place on St. Patrick’s Day. Drawn in by Irwin’s engaging personality and wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful relationship was born and it ultimately led to marriage on Saturday, June 19, 1976 at the United Methodist Church in Wayne followed by a honeymoon cruise. To commemorate that they met on St. Patrick’s Day, from that time forward, whenever Irwin gave Phyllis flowers, he always made sure there was at least one green flower in the bouquet. As a further example of his romantic nature, Irwin always made sure that for each wedding anniversary, he gave Phyllis one red rose for each year married. Of course the rose or roses always included one green flower and her latest bouquet included forty red roses and a green flower. Irwin and Phyllis were blest with a warm and special married life. One of the ways they expressed their love was by poking fun at each other a lot but, as Phyllis said, “Irwin loved me like nobody else could!” They got to travel all over the world including to destinations such as Europe, South America, on many cruises and, at least one month every winter to Florida where Irwin always made sure to book a place with an ocean view. No one could ever really understand why though because he always seemed to take a lot of naps, and it’s hard to see the ocean when your eyes are always closed.
Irwin was also a man drawn to the world of art and particularly to the expression of art through the genres of music and dance. Already as a young teen in high school, he loved to dance. His taste in music was wide and varied from the love of Frank Sinatra to Luciano Pavarotti but he also enjoyed country songs as well as different ethnic forms like Spanish and German music. One of his favorite places to dance was at the German clubs and Irwin was a member of two different ones; Deutscher Club of Clark, NJ where he had recently received his pin commemorating 25 years of faithful and loyal membership. At the Deutscher Club Irwin was always ready to roll up his sleeves and help wherever help was needed. There he enjoyed weekly dinners and dancing with Phyllis as well as annual Sommerfest and Octoberfest events. He was also a long-time member of the Germania Park Club of Dover, or the “Deutscher Shul-und Gesangverein” as they called it - the German School and Singing Society. It was a German-American cultural club that was established in 1895. At these clubs he could combine the things that gave him the most enjoyment in life – being with other people and dancing at events like Biergartenfests, Oktoberfests, Schlachtfests, and German Christmas shows to name a few.
Irwin enjoyed hunting and found the best challenge in hunting small birds called grouse. Grouse are not the easiest prey but Irwin was a skilled hunter. In fact, one year he took down 22 grouse – an unheard of number! He was a member of the Waughaw Valley Sportsman’s Club where he also enjoyed pheasant hunting. He raised his own beagles for hunting rabbit and field trials. When he wasn’t hunting or dancing, Irwin loved to read, especially books about the Civil War. He was a real buff on that subject. His family used to poke fun at him describing how he could go into great detail about Civil War accounts but he couldn’t remember what Phyliss said to him five minutes ago.
As you can see, Irwin was blessed with a great life. He loved life and he loved people. His wide array of interests, warm engaging demeanor, and wonderful sense of humor enabled him to make friends with perfect strangers and he also learned a lot from those countless encounters. Rest in Peace Irwin! You will be forever cherished in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known you.
Irwin is survived by his beloved wife of forty years – Phyllis; his daughter Barbara and husband Thomas Anthony Pfeffer of Mooresville, NC; his son Mark Nordhausen of Butler; three dear grandchildren: Tommy James, Jade Alexa, and Luke Anthony; twin brother William and wife Dolores Nordhausen of Bluffton, SC; sister Jane Saarloos of Anderson, SC; nieces and nephews: Alexis Laguer, Genaro Laguer, Dr. Artemio Perez, Jr., Dr. Sergio Perez; sister-in-law Alberta Perez; and brother-in-law Artemio Perez.
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