JOHN W. WISS

WISS JOHN W.

Age 94, Lt. Col USA (Ret.). On January 13, 2019 in the Washington, D.C. area, where he had been living with his daughter, Marcia A. Wiss. He was born in Genoa, Ohio on August 7, 1924 to John E. Wiss and Lucille (Manney) Wiss. He was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University for 30 years. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1946 and received his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and did additional graduate study at the University of Michigan. His career spanned government, industrial and academic positions. He served as an Army Ordnance Officer for 20 years, including as Chief of the Army Tank-Automotive Laboratories in Detroit. He served in the Korean War; Tokyo, Japan; White Sands Proving Ground, N. Mexico; Jet Propulsion Laboratories, California; and Berlin, Germany. He held numerous patents. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Margaret Ann (Cook) Wiss; he is survived by his sisters, Martha Blakeman of Blacklick, Ohio and Margaret Thornton (and her husband, Dexter Thornton) of Williamston, Michigan; and predeceased by his sister, Dr. Mary L. Wiss; he is survived by his children, Marcia A. Wiss of Washington, D.C. and John M. Wiss of Anchorage, Alaska; his grandchildren, Christopher C. W. MacDonald (and his wife, Laura Casserly) of Portland, Maine and Joan M. Schaefer (and her husband, Clayton Schaefer) of Washington, D.C.; and his great-grandchildren, Thomas Huxley Schaefer and William F. Schaefer, both of Washington, D.C., and Wendell G. C. MacDonald of Portland, Maine; he is survived by seven nieces and nephews, including Alice Blakeman of Portland, Oregon, who gave him great support and comfort during his final years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A Memorial Mass will be said for him at the chapel at Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C. at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 25, 2019 with a reception to follow in Holy Trinity's McKenna Hall. That evening, a viewing will be held at JOSEPH GAWLER'S SONS, 5130 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 from 6 to 8 p.m. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors in approximately 4 to 6 months. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Catholic Chapel at West Point for retreats, lectures or social events for the USMA cadets and their guests.