Here is my uncle's obituary. It hasn't really hit me yet that he's gone because I am three hours away, but I'm sure it will when we go down Saturday morning. I won't be back until Sunday late afternoon to evening-ish. He was a great uncle, my favorite actually, and my heart breaks for my cousins. My sisters and my brother and I used to go down to my Aunt Marion's (my mom's sister) and Uncle Don's house in the summer and spend a week there, every year. We always had a bonfire at least once while down there and he would tell us fire stories. Growing up, I was the child petrified of lighters and matches because of the stories I heard. Always check your smoke detectors and make sure your family has a meeting spot outside in the event that (god forbid) your home catches on fire. Also, make sure your house is at least neat enough at night that you have a path and you could make your way out in picth black darkness. I try to always make sure my daughters' rooms are picked up when they go to bed at night for that very reason.
Donald F. Weisse, 61, of Lockwood, N.Y., passed away Friday, Jan. 2 at his home, surrounded by his family, after a long and courageous battle with kidney cancer.
Born March 31, 1947 in Bayshore, N.Y., he was the son of the late Rudolph E. Weisse and Mona T. (Long) Weisse. Donald was a resident of Lockwood for 24 years. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; his family was his greatest joy. His grandchildren called him Pop-Pop and loved him dearly. He loved to laugh, work hard, and help others. Donald worked for the Department of Defense as a quality assurance program manager in Owego, N.Y. Donald was a US Army veteran, serving with the 7th Army. He later retired from the Air National Guard Reserve as a master sergeant with 20 years of service. He served as a volunteer firefighter for over 30 years and was active with the Lockwood Volunteer Fire Company, where he was an ex-chief, past chairman of the board of directors, and past treasurer. He was also a former member of the Tioga County Fire Investigation Team. Donald was a lifetime member of the Kings Park, N.Y. VFW.
Donald is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Marion (Arns) Weisse, at home, and his children, Donald Patrick (Andrea) Weisse of Sound Beach, N.Y., Laurie Ann (Brian) McGee, Bradford, Pa., and Brian Christopher (Laura) Weisse of Waverly, N.Y. Also surviving Donald are his five grandchildren, Donald Andrew, 15, Gavin Robert, five, Keira Elise, two, Cooper Jonathan, one, and Finnegan Matthew (two weeks old). He is also survived by his favorite mother-in-law, Marion Arns, of Lockwood, N.Y., and his brother. Rudolph T. (Judy) Weisse, of East Moriches, N.Y., as well as numerous other family members.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 from 2-5 p.m. at the Luckner Funeral Home, 449 Park Ave., Waverly, N.Y. Those wishing may direct memorial donations in Donald’s name to the Lockwood Fire Company, PO Box 16, Lockwood, NY 14859; 5 Main Oncology Foor, Robert Packer Hospital, c/o Lucinda Wiseman, Unit Manager-Nurses Fund, Guthrie Square, Sayre, PA 18840; or the Kidney Cancer Association, 1234 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60202.