Harry C. "Dutch" Biermann

Harry C. “Dutch” Biermann, age one hundred and one (101) of Alloway, NJ, died on Sunday, September 26, 2004 in the Salem County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with his family at his side. Born on July 15, 1903, in Quinton, NJ, he moved to Alloway with his parents, Hugo C. and Minnie Rose Andres Biermann when he was three years old.

He began his education at the school where the Alloway Twp. Fire Co. is now located, then went on to the old school on Lambert St. in Alloway and then Salem High School.

In his early years he worked for the Bader Construction Co. of Atlantic City, NJ, building railroad bridges, roads and other heavy construction projects. From 1931 to 1941, he was manager of the Quinton Gas Station owned by H. B. Smick Lumber Co. It was during this time that he met Louise E. Wheatley of Penton, NJ. They were married on April 10, 1937.

During WWII, he was a private in the US Army under the Auxiliary Military Police of the E. I. DuPont de NeMours & Co. in Carneys Point. From the late 1940’s through the late 1950’s he was a night patrolman for the Borough of Woodstown and also worked part-time as a police officer at Cowtown. In February of 1953, at the age of 50, he graduated from the N.J. State Police School. Being the oldest member in a class of 60, he quickly earned the nickname “Pop”.

His days were spent operating his own dump truck and hauling various materials for customers throughout the area. Following Hurricane Hazel in 1958, he went to work for the Utilities Line Construction of Pennsylvania and worked there until he retired in 1965.

Mr. Biermann was a life member and past president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Old Oak Lodge #6, of Salem Co., a life member of the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association, a life member of the Alloway Twp. Fire Co., and the Alloway Twp. Fireman’s Relief Assoc., a member of the Salem County Old Boys Club, an honorary member of the Alloway Twp. Senior Citizen’s Club, a charter member of the Alloway Beach Committee, he worked diligently for the preservation of a public beach at Alloway Lake. In 1945, Mr. Biermann became a charter member of the Alloway Civic Association, helping to organize the first Alloway Halloween Parade and the Alloway Canteen. He also served on the committees for both “Alloway Remembers” books.

Mr. Biermann is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise E. (Wheatley), a son, Hugo C. of Bel Air, MD, three daughters, Karin A. Shriner of Wharton, NJ, Grace A. Chapman of Oxford, PA, Barbara R. Weiser of Lincoln University, PA, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

He was predecesaed by his sister, Agnes M. Biermann of Haddon Heights and a brother, Hugo C. of Alloway.

Funeral services will be held 12 Noon Wednesday, September 29th from the H.T. LAYTON & SON HOME FOR FUNERALS, 102 S. Main St., Woodstown, NJ where friends are invited to call two hours prior to services.

Interment will be in Lawnside Cemetery, Pilesgrove, NJ.

The family requests that those who wish to make contributions in Mr. Biermann’s memory send them to the Alloway Twp. Fire Co., 17 E. Main St., P.O. Box 875, Alloway, NJ 08001 or to the Alloway Baptist Church, 41 W. Main St., P.O. Box 221, Alloway, NJ 08001.