Werner Hermann Drexel

Werner Hermann Drexel was born January 29, 1934 in Untermeitingen, near Augsburg, in Southern Germany. He almost died at birth, as the umbilical cord was tied around his neck, during a home birth. His middle name was his Grandfather’s name: Hermann. His parents were born in Germany, came to the USA, had a son William Drexel, went back to Germany just before World War 2, and Werner was born there. This family of four had a primitive life during World War 2, with one light bulb, no bathroom, no toilet paper. Werner’s mother never knew where the next meal would come from. They survived being shot at and bombed by US aircraft during WWII. The US attempted to starve them out by dropping potato bugs on the crops of their region.Many times they had to hide in the basement to prevent being killed during WWII. Werner lost the joys of childhood to war time. It was in Germany that Werner learned to play the violin. His mother’s sister Bärbel gave him his violin and paid for lessons. Werner came to NY as a teen. He went to high school in NY. He studied at City College and Hunter College, which were free schools at the time, after passing an entrance exam. He attended school full time while working full time as a superintendant of the building where he lived with his parents and brother, in a one bedroom apartment. His mother especially wanted him to become an engineer, so he became a mechanical engineer, specializing in cooling systems, working at Sperry Gyroscope, in Great Neck, NY. His first wife is Eleanor Kunze (Campolong), mother of his 2 children. Werner held the Patent for the cooling system which was used for Pentium processors, in computers around America. He later earned a second Patent for the cooling systems in NYC traffic lights. Werner was a New Apostolic Church choir director in St James, NY. Edna was the church organist. A love blossomed between them, so strong that nothing could keep them apart. After a few years in NY, they made a new life for themselves in Florida, to take care of Edna’s parents. A wonderful, retired life where every day was Saturday. Werner was an exceedingly handy man. He figured out how to fix everything in his car and home by himself. He prided himself on never hiring anyone to repair things. He installed central air-conditioning singlehandedly, and learned to become accomplished at roofing, plumbing, floor installation, gardening, even building a seawall with his friend Ray Graczyk Jr, to withstand ocean water. The repair list is endless. Werner was self- motivated, meticulous, and detail oriented. His favorite reading was Big charts, intently studying the stock market, Taber’s Medical Encyclopedia and Merck Manual. He should have become a doctor, that’s how interested in medicine he was. When a person decides to retire in their early 50s, certain sacrifices need to be made. Extreme financial discipline must be followed throughout their life, in order to have sufficient funds to last thru their years. Werner Drexel had a willingness to suffer, in order to achieve his goal of an extraordinarily long retirement. How many of us can say the same? Werner Hermann Drexel is survived by his wife: Edna Drexel, her 3 children: Peter and wife Sue Knoetgen, Patty Knoetgen and husband Richard Kream, and Jeannette and husband NicholasTausanavich His first wife: Eleanor Kunze Campolong is the mother of his two children: Susan Drexel Paisley, fiancé Victor Gugliotti, Robert Drexel and wife Adrienne. Grandchildren: Robert, Max, Christina, Peter, Philip, Alex, Natalia, Sophie, and Mark. Great grandsons: Matthew and Brendan

Werner Hermann Drexel

January 29, 1934 - August 10, 2022