Obituary of Walter Max Drechsel

            It is with heartbreak and sorrow that we mourn the passing of Walter (Walt) Max Drechsel at The Chelsea at  Brookfield Assisted Living, Belvidere, NJ on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at the age of 96. He was formally from Washington, NJ.

                Walt was born in Thalheim, Germany on November 12, 1921. He was the son of the late Max Albin and Louise Herrbach Drechsel.  His loving wife Elfriede “Fritzie” Oertel Drechsel preceded him in death in 2007 after 61 years of marriage. 

                Walt is survived by his daughter Diane Kerr and husband Richard of Easton, Pa. and a son Walter Douglas of Andover, NJ.  Five grandchildren, Lisa Kerr of Easton, Pa., Laurie Kerr and wife Rosanne Diaz of Easton, Amy Casciola and husband Mark of Pittsburgh, Pa., Michael Kerr of Los Angeles, Ca., and Dr. Emily Williams Drechsel Beltz and husband Brian of Southampton, Pa.  Five great grandchildren, Austin Brown of Tampa, Fl., Megan and Luke Casciola of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Ernest and Devin Kerr-Diaz of Easton, Pa.

                Walt graduated from Washington High School, Washington, NJ in 1940 where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.  He was awarded “The Moose Trophy” for the outstanding athlete.

                He attended Penn State University majoring in Forrestry.

                Walt was honorably discharged from the Army as a Sgt. after 3 years of service in the 240th Engineer Corps.  He was in WW II and served in the New Guinea and Southern Phillipine campaignes.  He received the good conduct medal, American theater, Asiatic Pacific, Phillipine Liberation and Victory ribbons and the Bronze Star.  He assisted the infantry in the clearing of enemy mines – locating, deactivating, and removing enemy mines while under hostile enemy fire.

                Walt was a member of the local carpenters union.  He retired at the age of 71 after 34 years as the Manager of the Sherwin Williams Paint Store in Washington, NJ.

                Walt was an avid fan of both the NY Yankees and Jets.

                He was the number one fan of the Warren Hills Field Hockey Team as they pursued and won their first NJ State Championship coached by , his granddaughter, Laurie Kerr.

                Walt spent the last 4 years as a resident of the Chelsea at Brookfield Assisted Living Facility in Belvidere, NJ.  The family wishes to thank all the staff for their loving care and also thank you to the Compassionate Care Hospice Staff and to Dr. Franklin Margolis MD and Eric Zellar PA.

                Funeral services will be Friday at 11 AM in the Devoe Funeral Home 136 West Washington Ave., Washington, NJ. Visitation will be on Thursday from 6-8 pm and from 10 am until time of Service.  Burial will be in the Musconetcong Valley Cemetery, Hampton, NJ.

                In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Compassionate Care Foundation, 350 Sparta Ave. Bldg B, Suite 2, Sparta, NJ  07871 or Freedom Alliance in care of Tom Kilgannon, 22570 Markey Ct., Suite 240, Dulles, Va. 20166.