Joseph E. Betzwieser

Joseph E. Betzwieser, 97, of Bloomingrove Drive, died Sunday, November 6, 2016, at Van Rensselaer Manor. Born in Hochhausen, Baden, Germany, he was son of the late Hyronimus Betzwieser and Adelheid Schafer Betzwieser and husband of the late Margarete Schramm Betzwieser, who died October 3rd. He was educated in Germany and attended trade school where he learned his craft. He came to the United States in 1953 with his wife and two children and settled in the Troy area. Mr. Betzwieser began his career at General Electric in Schenectady and later worked for over 30 years as a layout man, doing ornamental steel work on railings and stair design at several companies including Lawson, Albany Steel and General Steel. He was a 50 plus year member of the Germania Hall Association and the Mannachor, a vocal group of the Hall. He and his wife served as a delegates traveling to many cities. He was a member of the Germania Hall Rod & Gun Club and its treasurer. He was a veteran of the German Air Force, a communicant of St. Augustine's Church and most recently Sacred Heart Church, Mr. Betzwieser was a meticulous craftsman/handyman, building and designing everything to exact detail. He enjoyed woodworking and growing a vegetable garden. Survivors include a daughter, Christa H. (Robert) Owen, Durham, CA; two sons, Albert J. (Diane) Betzwieser, Rexford and Gerhard Betzwieser, Wynantskill; his grandchildren, Peter Owen, Patricia Owen Woody, Robert J. Owen and Joseph and Albert Betzwieser; his great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Sophia, Kaiden and Landon Owen, Lucas Woody and Arabelle Betzwieser; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Ursula Betzwieser; and his siblings, Albert, Leo, Anton and Alois Betzwieser, Bertha von der Au, Hedwig Weigand, Julia Lesch, Lisel Rothenheber, Maria Geier and Rose Wurtemberger. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc., 276 Pawling Avenue, Troy on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home and 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Troy. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Joseph E. Betzwieser to the Alzheimer's Association of NENY, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205. For a private family guest book and service directions, visit www.brycefh.com.