Bert Wisse

Bert Wisse, 88, of Flagler Beach, FL entered eternal rest on October 4, 2021. Bert was born on January 9, 1933, in Rochelle Park, NJ to Marinus and Minnie Wisse. At age 12, his family moved to Franklin, NY where Bert spent his teenage years working the family dairy farm with his dad and his brother, Robert. Bert was a 1951 graduate of Delaware Literary Institute and Franklin Central School and continued working on the farm until he enlisted in the US Army where he served from February 1954 to February 1956. He married Marjorie Mason, also from Franklin, NY in 1956 and attended Cornell University, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Agricultural Education. He loved to teach the technical arts and had a passion for rural education. He taught agriculture, driver education, industrial arts, and mechanical drawing at several rural schools in upstate NY before entering public school administration at Gilboa-Conesville Central School, where he retired as Principal and school bus driver in 1988. He earned his master’s degree from SUNY Albany in 1970 and earned his permanent certificate in Educational Administration in 1972. Bert and Marjorie loved to travel, and they were frequent chaperones on school trips, taking rural students to New York City, Washington, D.C., and even to visit Italy with the Catskill Area Study Council in 1977. Bert was an avid game player and excelled at chess and playing cards as well as being a skilled bowler, and he and Marjorie often traveled to other states to national bowling tournaments. Bert was a local legend at Scotch Valley Lanes in Stamford, NY, where he held the trophy for high average for many years; a record which may still be unsurpassed. During retirement, Bert and Marjorie were “snowbirds” and split their time between their home in Franklin, NY and their home in Flagler Beach, FL. In addition to traveling the east coast, they traveled across the country and around the world to visit their children and grandchildren wherever they lived. Bert volunteered his time with the Bulow Village Homeowners’ Association and served as its President for several years. He was also a skilled craftsman and enjoyed working with his hands, doing general construction and remodeling homes in his free time. Bert is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Marjorie Wisse, and their three children, Douglas (Cherie) of Oak Island, NC, Jeanne Peel, LMFT of Flagler Beach, FL, and Dr. Patrice Hallock (David) of Gilboa, NY. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Harriett Wisse, nieces Jane (Matt) Bemis, Michele (Bill) Woodson, nephew Bob (Jody) Wisse, Jr., his 11 grandchildren, and his 18, soon-to-be 19, great-grandchildren. Bert was predeceased by his older sister, Jane, in childhood, and by his older brother, Robert in December 2020. Bert was a wonderful man who touched many and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him. There are no services scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gilboa Scholarship Award at Gilboa-Conesville Central School, 132 Wyckoff Rd., Gilboa, NY. 12076 or the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org. Arrangements are made in the care of Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home.