Donald B. Woessner

WOESSNER, Donald B. Donald B. Woessner, 75, of Meriden, husband of Dolores "Dodie" (Aune) Woessner, passed away after a short fight with cancer on Thursday (November 17, 2005). Born in Epworth, ND, August 26, 1930, son of the late Herman and Christine Woessner, he was raised in North Dakota. After an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army in 1952, he began a career with the U.S. Border Patrol, serving in El Paso, TX and Ogdensburg, NY. He then transferred to the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the U.S. Justice Department, holding various positions in offices located in Hannah and Portal, ND; Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK; San Diego, CA; and Rome Italy. He retired on January 3, 1986, as Officer in Charge at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and was honored with a Tribute of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of State for Superior Management of Refugees from Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, the Near East, South Asia, and Africa; and Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Justice in 1986 for 34 years of service. After his retirement, he returned to North Dakota selling real estate and enjoying his outdoor activities of farming and gardening. In 1997, he moved to Meriden, to be care giver for his only grandson, Remington Perry Lyman, act as Honorary Grandpa for the neighborhood kids, and to be closer to his East Coast family. His hobbies included reading, snowmobiling, hunting, coin collecting, fishing, and "puttering" in the garage fixing whatever needed to be fixed. He was a Life Member of the VFW, and annual member of the Elks, Eagles, and National Rifle Association. He is survived by his wife, Dodie Woessner; two sons, Douglas Woessner of Anchorage, AK and Dennis Woessner and his wife Sherrill of Colchester; a daughter, Deborah Lyman and her husband David; and grandson, Remington Perry Lyman of Meriden. Surviving members from North Dakota are his brother, Kenneth Woessner and his wife Darlene of Parshall; three sisters, Genevieve Lyson and her husband Harlan of Bismarck; Lucille Ofsthun and her husband MarIo of Minot; lone Locken and her husband Johnnie of Stanley; and his favorite aunt, Mildred Kulland of Palermo; and other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. His family will be escorting him back home to North Dakota where a full military funeral will be celebrated. Internment will be in the Veterans Cemetery in Manden, ND. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Remington Perry Lyman Educational Fund, c/o Bank of America, 1231 East Main Street, Meriden, CT 06450. The Glastonbury Funeral Home has charge of local arrangements. Please visit www.mem.com for an everlasting memorial tribute.