Joseph Frank Gessner

Joseph Frank Gessner, age 94 years, of Flemington, NJ, died on Friday, June 4, 2010 at his home.

Born July 5, 1915 in Elizabeth, NJ to the late Valentine and Mary Streiffler Gessner, he graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1933 and then moved to Kingwood Township, NJ to operate a farm with his parents.

A communicant of St. Michaels Church, Elizabeth, NJ, he later became a communicant of Our Lady of Victories Church, Baptistown, NJ.

In 1938 he married his first wife, Florence Marie Stanger and was then employed by Riegel Paper Corp., Milford, NJ. Mr. Gessner enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 where he served as an automotive mechanic and spent time in Central Europe before being honorably discharged in 1946. Among his decorations and citations were the American Campaign Medal, the EAME Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Gessner served as the Tax Assessor as well as the Registrar in Kingwood Township, NJ for many years and took numerous courses at Rutgers University while still working full time at Reigel Paper Corp. He was also a member of the Kingwood Merry Mixers as well as a charter member of the Kingwood Township Volunteer Fire Company, of which he was most proud.

Surviving are his second wife, Anna (Betty) Housel Gessner; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marlane and Robert Umgelter of Flemington, NJ and Barbara and Anthony Moretti of Deming, NM; a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph S. and Kathy Gessner of Menomonie, WI; three grandchildren, Alan Umgelter of Flemington, NJ, Gretchen Vallat of Quakertown, NJ and Alissa Hirscher of Madison, WI; four great grandchildren, Ethan Umgelter, Mackenzie Vallat, and Amelie and Therese' Hirscher; a brother, Anthony Gessner of Kingwood Township, NJ; and several nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Florence; four brothers, Frank, Valentine, Andrew and Martin; and a sister, Theresa.

Funeral Services will take place Friday, June 11, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will follow in St. Magdalen Cemetery, Flemington, NJ. There are no calling hours. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hunterdon Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822 or to the Kingwood Township Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 99, Baptistown, NJ 08803.