Wade P. Cory

Wade P. Cory, age 79, of Haskell, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2019 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Wade was born in Orange. NJ and was the first of four children to Joseph and Victoria Cory.  As a child, he and his family resided in Idaho and Oradell, finally settling in Ramsey, NJ.  Wade attended Ramsey High School and graduated with the class of 1957.  Following high school, Wade attended Michigan State University, earning his Bachelor’s degree and graduating with the class of 1961.  Michigan State University at the time offered a degree program called Lumber Merchandising.  Wade’s father Joseph co-owned and operated the family business at the time called Cory and Brett Lumber, which eventually became his own and was called Cory Lumber Corp.  Cory Lumber sold to lumber and building wholesalers such as Kuiken Lumber.  He was also the youngest-ever Snark of the Universe with Hoo-Hoo International – Fraternal Order of the Forest Products Industry.  


After years of owning and operating Cory Lumber, the business eventually closed due to the opening and rising of companies like Home Depot and Lowes.  Wade then went to work for Life Touch Photography as a sales representative, were he worked closely with churches and schools developing and organizing directories.  Wade did this for many years and retired in 2008.

Subsequent to Wade’s college graduation, he enlisted in the National Guard and served from 1961-1967.  He served one weekend every month and two weeks during the summer.  During his time serving in the National Guard his unit guarded Cape Cod for President John F. Kennedy.

From 1962 to 1984 Wade was married to Priscilla Armstrong.  In 1984, he met Donna Broersma at a divorce support group in Midland Park.  Wade and Donna’s first date was to the movies where they saw “The Right Stuff” and then went out for pizza.  As fate would have it they fell in love and were married on June 27, 1987 at Covenant Church.  Wade and Donna became members of St Michael’s Episcopalian Church and remained there for many years.  While members of the church, Wade cherished singing in the church choir with Donna as a bass.  Wade was also very active in the church’s Garden Committee, where he enjoyed gardening at the church behind the parking lot where he grew a variety of vegetables for himself.

As a child, Wade and his family would frequent the Jersey Shore, particularly Long Beach Island where he grew a great fondness of over the years.  Wade also treasured traveling with his wife Donna to other destinations such as the beaches of the Caribbean.  Whether on vacation at the Jersey Shore or elsewhere, Wade could always be found with a book in his hand, particularly Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler novels.  Wade was a super outgoing person and was the kind of guy you couldn’t help but like.  Wade and Donna Cherished thirty two years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Wade was a special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Wade is survived by his Wife Donna (nee Broersma) of Haskell, three daughters; Christine Odell and her husband Ed of Midland Park, Laura D’Ercole  and her husband Jason of Oakland, and Lora Smid and her husband Rob of Dedham, MA, two sons Eric Cory and his wife Liz of Lake Stockholm, and Brian Tuit of Vernon, one sister Sandra Doyle and her husband Tom of Florida, one daughter in law, Elvira Cory of Mahwah, ten grandchildren; Adrienne, Kayla, Riley, Grace, Avery, James, Meghan, Will, Dalia, and Keira, and two great grandchildren, Bennet, and Carson.  Wade was predeceased by his son Jon Cory in 2017 and his brothers Russell and Reid Cory.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wade’s name to St Michael’s Church Garden Committee, Care of Wade P. Cory, 1219 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470.