Obituary of George Orthmann

ORTHMANN, George J., Sr. of Wyckoff, N.J., passed away quietly early Tuesday afternoon with his son at his bedside. George battled congestive heart failure for over a year and a half, but his big heart finally stopped beating on November 13, 2007. He resided the last six months of his life at Van Dyk Manor in Ridgewood, where he enjoyed wonderful care. George accepted his fate with dignity and grace. He lived to celebrate his eighty-ninth birthday in September at Van Dyk Manor, surrounded by family and friends. He was thrilled to learn that he had become a great grandfather on Monday, November 5, 2007. Born the eldest son of a farmer during World War I, George learned early on the value of hard work and of treating all living things with respect. He worked with his hands, whether on the farm, in a warehouse, or in people's homes carefully packing up their belongings for transport. George was gainfully employed up until the age of eighty-six. Family and friends will remember George for his tremendous work ethic, his kindness, his generosity, and his love of plants and animals. George's idea of relaxation after coming home from his job was to work in his well-tended yard. Surviving George are his two children, George J. Orthmann, Jr., of Wyckoff and Rosemary Orthmann of Frederick, Md.; his son George's wife Carole and three grandchildren, Jennifer Orthmann Murphy of Philadelphia, Pa., Kimberly and Julie Orthmann of Wyckoff, NJ; and his great grandson Henry Emerson Murphy. Also surviving George are his seven siblings: sisters Clementine Wetzel of Wyckoff and Rita Hetzel of Mahwah and brothers Joseph of Jamaica, N.Y., Charles of Washington State, William of Argyle, N.Y., John of Freehold, N.J., and Paul of Mesa, Ariz. Visitation hours will be 2-4 and 7-8:30 followed by a brief service at 8:30 on Friday, November 16, at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O.Box 214, Wyckoff, N.J. 07481.