Joachim Gerhard Ansorge

1948 - 2023

Joachim Gerhard Ansorge, 74, formerly of the Town of LaGrange, NY, died peacefully after a long illness in the early hours of January 28, 2023 in Saugerties, NY. Joachim was born October 22, 1948 in Dissen, Germany. In 1955, his parents Gerhard and Charlotte sailed with Joachim and his sister Christine on the USS General Langfitt (a Liberty Ship) from Bremerhaven, Germany to New York City. Sponsored by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod under the 1953 Eisenhower Refugee Act, they resettled in Fremont, Ohio. Later they relocated to the mid-Hudson Valley where Joachim ('Yogi') attended Kingston High School then Arlington High School, from which he graduated with Honors (Class of 1967). He subsequently earned a degree in Economics from Hartwick College (1971) and a Master of Regional Planning from Penn State University (1974). He worked initially for Dutchess County Department of Transportation, and then became the Planning, Zoning and Building Administrator for the Town of LaGrange until he retired in 2008. Since 2014, Joachim was happily engaged to his lifelong friend Jennifer Horner, with whom he shared a home in Saugerties since 2018. A soccer player in high school and lifelong fan of Bundesliga soccer, Joachim was an avid outdoorsman, jogger, skier, and traveler (in the US, Europe, Africa, and Australia). He was more recently an enthusiast of kayaking on the Esopus Creek, especially when surrounded by his beloved daughters and grandchildren.Joachim was survived by his sister Christine Charlotte Ansorge of Kingston, NY, his daughters Lisa Christine Ansorge (grandchildren Ryley and Reegan), Heather Lynn Ansorge (Russ Addis) (grandchildren Chloe and Cameron), and Katherine Margaret Ansorge (Joseph) Zeller (grandchildren Elliott and Charlotte), his former spouse Christine (Vosburg) Eidel, as well as family members in Germany: Ingrid (Bernd) Bueser, their children Christine Bueser and Michael (Christina) Bueser and their children Felix and Moritz, as well as Heinz (Traudel) Opitz, Heinz (Isa) Rettig, and Renate (Harald) Wimmer-Voegt and, in Ohio, cousins Martina (Tony) Kramb and Marnie (Tom) Graves. Joining the family in love and celebration of Joachim's life are many lifelong friends.A private memorial service will be held at a later time.In lieu of gifts or flowers, please send donations to a charity of your choice.Arrangements were entrusted to the Burnett & White funeral home, 91 East Market St., Rhinebeck, NY.www.burnett-white.com https://www.lastingmemories.com/joachim-gerhard-ansorge