United States High School Yearbooks by County
Robert E. Pratt, 84, had lived in Wingdale
Robert E. Pratt, 84, of Wingdale, N.Y., died May 7 in New Milford. He was the widower of Gladys E. Pratt, who died in July 1998.
Born in New York, N.Y., March 3, 1915, he was a son of Reuben and Pauline Pratt. He moved to Wingdale in 1984.
Mr. Pratt worked as a New York State Parks maintenance employee for the Taconic State Park Commission. After his retirement, he volunteered at the Peale Center in Pawling, N.Y., as a prayer partner. An avid tinsmith, he was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army Medical Corps as a staff sergeant stationed in the South Pacific.
Mr. Pratt was a member of the Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Poughquag, N.Y.
He is survived by a sister, Audrey Teter of Wycoff, N.J.; a brother, Oliver A. Pratt, of Cresskill, N.J.; three sons, Robert A. Pratt of Rockville Center, N.Y., David Pratt of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., and Stuart Pratt of Carmel, N.Y.; a daughter, Ruth Ann McCrodden of Newtown; and nine grandchildren.
The Horn and Thomes Funeral Home in Pawling is in charge of the arrangements.
A memorial service will be held on today (Friday) at 10:30 a.m. at the Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Poughquag.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be given to the Valley Bible Fellowship Church Benevolent Fund, P.O. 213, Poughquag, NY 12570, or to a charity of your choice.
Vincent Pisano, 72, father of area residents
Vincent L. Pisano, 72, died May 6 at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was the husband of Geneva R. Hartford Pisano and lived at 8 Hillside Circle in Brookfield.
Mr. Pisano was born in Yonkers Dec. 14, 1926, son of Vincent and Kathryn J. Darrow Pisano. He was educated in Yonkers and was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving on submarines. Mr. Pisano was a truck driver for Kimberly-Clark in New Milford.
A member of the American Legion and the Teamsters Local #677 in Waterbury, he was a member of St. Marguerite Church, Brookfield.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Vincent C. Pisano of New Milford; two daughters, Rosemary Galinski of Roxbury and Kathryn Dillon of New Milford; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two half-sisters, Roberta DeLea of Clinton, and Marion Murphy of Southington; and several nieces and nephews.
The Brookfield Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Stuart B. Pennywell, was a New Milford native
Stuart B. Pennywell, a resident of Wingdale, N.Y., since 1966, died March 24 at Sharon Hospital in Sharon.
Born in New Milford, he was a son of Samuel Pennywell and Henrietta Peckham. He attended New Milford schools and was a graduate of Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Mr. Pennywell, a veteran of the Korean War who served in the U.S. Army, was a vocational rehabilitation specialist at Wassaic Developmental Center, Wassaic, N.Y.
He was a member of Public Employee Federation at Wassaic Developmental Center, a past master of Nimrod Lodge No. 96, American Legion Post No. 1949, and a member of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He was also a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Green Haven, N.Y., and was very actively involved in church activities.
Mr. Pennywell is survived by a son, Keith Pennywell of New Milford; a sister Olivia Pennywell of New Milford; three grandchildren; and many relatives and friends.
Louisa Wieting, 95, resident of Washington Depot
Louisa Wolfer Wieting, 95, of 47 Church Hill Road, Washington Depot, died at New Milford Hospital May 5 after a brief illness. She was the widow of Henry A. Wieting.
Mrs. Wieting was born Jan. 28, 1904, in Austria, daughter of George and Anna Wolfer. She came to this country in 1923 and was employed by her brother-in-law, Anton Preininger, a New York City real estate developer.
After her marriage, she moved to Islip, Long Island. She came to New Milford in 1939. She later served as adviser and assisted in the operation of the former F.A. Wieting Agency, Real Estate, Insurance, Builders and Developers.
Mrs. Wieting was a strong supporter of animal welfare. She enjoyed her cats, gardening and reading all of her life.
She leaves two sons, George W. Wieting and Fritz A. Wieting, both of New Milford; a sister, Julia Aasland of New York City; a niece, Erna Zeunges of Brookfield; a nephew, Paul Wolfer of Chicago, Ill., and family members in Austria.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date. The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
G. Sanford Johnson, 103, Roxbury native
G. Sanford Johnson, 103, of Danbury, formerly of Bethel, died May 6 at Filosa Convalescent Center, Danbury. He was the husband of the late Florence Bates Johnson and the late Mara Louise Street Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was born in Roxbury Jan. 27, 1896, a son of Gustaf and Alma Anderson Johnson. He served in the Army during World War I.
He lived in Roxbury and Woodbury until moving to Bethel. Mr. Johnson owned and operated a farm for more than 50 years in the Wolfpit district of Bethel. While maintaining the farm he also did masonry work in the area.
Mr. Johnson is survived by two nieces, Lois Whittlesey Woodin of Bethel and Lillian Whittlesey Torres of Dover, N.H.; and several great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Esther Whittlesey, in 1997 and a nephew, Robert Whittlesey, in 1998.
The Bethel Funeral Home of Bethel was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Walter J. LaPine, 77, had worked locally
Walter James LaPine, 77, of Danbury died May 7 after a long battle with cancer. He was the husband of Frances LaPine.
Mr. LaPine was a lifelong area resident, living in Brookfield for the past 44 years, and most recently in Danbury.
Born July 24, 1921, in Danbury, he was a graduate of Danbury High School, Class of 1938. In his early years, he was a popular musician who played saxophone and clarinet with bands, including Tommy Dorsey and Horace Heidt and many local orchestras.
During World War II, Mr. LaPine served in the U.S. Marine Corps, participating in the invasion of Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division followed by occupation duty in Peiping, China. He received the Presidential Unit Citation as well as a Navy Letter of Commendation for his service in the Pacific theater.
Mr. LaPine retired in 1988 as a Northeast District Manager of Gates Rubber Company of Denver, Colo. After his retirement, he worked at Ruwet Sibley Auto Supply in New Milford, as well as Kent Auto Supply.
Mr. LaPine enjoyed an active life and participated in local veterans organizations. He was a member of the 1st Marine Division Association, China Marine Association and American Legion Post No. 60 and was a life member of the Marine Corps League Hat City Detachment of Danbury.
In addition to his wife of 49 years, he is survived by his son Jim of Danbury; daughter-in-law Diane of Danbury; and two grandchildren, Jaimie and Gregory of Danbury.
The Cornell Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810 or Marine Corps League Hat City Detachment of Danbury, P.O. Box 4256, Danbury, CT 06813.
Nicholas Krusky, 95, former Bridgewater resident
Nicholas Krusky, 95, a former resident of Bridgewater, died May 5 in Orlando, Fla. He was the husband of Eleanor Kress Krusky.
Mr. Krusky was a lifetime member of the Bridgewater Fire Department and was a carpenter by trade.
Besides his wife, he is survived a daughter, Helen Krusky Backman of Danbury; two brothers, William Krusky of Bridgewater and Andrew Krusky of Massachusetts; Mrs. Krusky's three children, Elizabeth Smith and Mary Whitford, both of Orlando, Fla., and Joseph Kress of North Carolina.; and nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Connecticut, Florida and Georgia.
Mr. Krusky was predeceased by his first wife, Laura VanKuren Krusky; two daughters, Margaret Wadell and Marion Barker Fox; three brothers, Stephen Krusky, John Krusky and Joseph Krusky; and three sisters, Margaret Hager, Rose Rusnak and Verna Fredlund.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Bridgewater Fire Department, Bridgewater, CT 06752, or American Cancer Society, 1999 Relay for Life, Bethel-N.K., 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
Peter 'Steve' Machno, 87, avid fisherman
Peter Steve Machno Sr., 87, a native of New Milford and owner of Machno Plumbing and Heating Services, died May 11 in New Milford. He was the husband of the late Margaret Irene O'Brien Machno.
Born May 1, 1912, in an old farm house along the East Aspetuck River on Papermill Road in New Milford, Mr. Machno was a resident of Butter Brook Hill Apartments.
Mr. Machno, an avid lover of New Milford and fishing, was known for his smile, warm hello and reduced plumbing costs.
Although Mr. Machno did not receive formal education beyond eighth grade, as was the custom when he was growing up, he was well educated. He and his wife worked to make sure their daughter received a good education.
Mr. Machno loved to keep up on national and local politics, the way the world changed and how he could better this world by sharing his experience of living through the Great Depression and World Wars.
The fisherman loved to catch Brown Trout in the Aspetuck River and Chinook Salmon from Puget Sound in Washington.
Mr. Machno is survived by a daughter, Nancy Gawel of New Milford; a son, Dr. Peter S. Machno of Seattle, Wash.; a brother, John W. Mackno of Hollywood, Fla.; two grandchildren, Irene Gawel of Boston and Brian Gawel of New Milford.
A service will take place today (Friday) at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, Route 109, New Milford.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Historical Society, 6 Aspetuck Ave., New Milford, CT 06776.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford is in charge of the arrangements.
Chrystal C. Gueniat, 74, was born in Washington
Chrystal (Cable) Gueniat, 74, of 5 Schwab Road in New Preston, died May 29 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She was the wife of John Gueniat.
Mrs. Gueniat was born in Washington Feb. 20, 1925, daughter of the late William and Phena (Whitlock) Cable.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, John A. Gueniat of New Preston and Michael A. Gueniat of New Milford; four daughters, Yvonne Sanford and Jeanette Sanford of Litchfield, Carol G. Christen of Coushatta, La., and Judy Sparadeo of Warwick, R.I.; a brother, Perry Cable of New Preston; a sister, Evelyn Sasser of Alabama; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Henry Kwasniewski, 86, had worked at First National
Henry J. Kwasniewski, 86, of 90 Boardman Road in New Milford died June 3 at New Milford Hospital.
He was born in Cornwall Oct. 22, 1912, a son of the late Stanislaw and Bronislawa (Makowski) Kwasniewski. He lived almost his entire life in New Milford, attending local schools.
Mr. Kwasniewski joined the former First National stores in 1930, retiring in 1973 as manager of the dairy department in the New Milford store.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 69th Infantry Division and participating in the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns.
A member of the Ezra Woods Post No. 31 American Legion in New Milford and the Andrew B. Mygatt Post 1672 VFW in New Milford, he was also a member of the Housatonic Council No. 40 Knights of Columbus in New Milford.
Mr. Kwasniewski was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford, where he had served as an usher for over 30 years. Mr. Kwasniewski had also served as a constable in New Milford from 1939 to 1960.
He is survived by two brothers, Joseph A. Kwasniewski of Worcester, Mass., and Stanley E. Kwasniewski of New Milford; three sisters, Laura M. Kwasniewski of New Milford, Lucy H. Kwasniewski of Long Island, N.Y. and Blanche K. Weldon of New Fairfield; and several nieces and nephews.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford was in charge of the arrangements.
Joan Kowalski, 68, mother of New Milford woman
Joan L. Kowalski, 68, of 160 Walnut Hill Road, Bethel, wife of Edward S. Kowalski, died at Danbury Hospital June 2.
She was born in Danbury April 20, 1931, daughter of Katherine (Parks) Lounsbury of Danbury and the late Thomas A. Lounsbury. Mrs. Kowalski had attended Danbury schools and had been a Bethel resident for more than 35 years. She was a member of the Bethel Senior Center.
In addition to her husband and her mother, Mrs. Kowalski is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Wayne Anderson of New Milford; and several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Thomas Lounsbury II.
Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450.
