Wolf Alexander Frhr von Lersner, age 90, born in Kassel Germany, son of Karl Alexander Frhr von Lersner and Ilse Frfr von Lersner, nee K?stlin, beloved husband of 61 years of Martha Frfr von Lersner, nee Mueller, passed peacefully on March 20, 2018 at his home in Longwood, Florida. He was surrounded by his loving family – son Peter Karl (Karen), daughter Christine (Kristy) and daughter Cornelia Benson (Craig). Wolf was proud grandfather to Heidi Karsten (Justin), Hanna Bratt (Ryan), Alexander and Ariana von Lersner, Sabine and Kofi von Lersner. He was great grandfather to Daniel Douglas Karsten and Titus Wolf Karsten.
Wolf is survived by his brother and wife, Klaus Frhr von Lersner and Helga Frfr von Lersner of Hamburg, Germany. He was also proud to be called Onkel Wolf by six nephews, three nieces, and the many progeny of his cousins and of Martha's sister, all residing in Germany.
Wolf and his wife arrived in the United States in 1956, having met and married in South America after World War II. Originally planning to stay only long enough to acquire new technical skills for a return to Germany, Wolf and Martha were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1970. They lived together in their adopted homeland for 61 years.
Wolf's first U.S. employer was the Burk company, where he was in charge of 24/7 facilities maintenance. After several years, he secured employment as a mechanical engineer, for Campbell Soup Co. in Camden, NJ. He finished his lengthy career at Campbell's as the Director of Engineering, Research, and Development – credited as a principal designer on more than a dozen patents.
Always an avid traveler, he journeyed worldwide, first on behalf of his company and later for leisure. After his formal retirement, he independently patented a process for safe, sanitary medical waste disposal. Over the years, Wolf and Martha had homes in Haverford, PA, in Levittown, PA, in Cherry Hill, NJ, and in Voorhees, NJ. They vacationed almost every year at the Jersey shore, and were eventually able to fulfill their American Dream, building a home on the bay, in Avalon, NJ, which became their retreat, their happy place, and a favorite family gathering spot.
Wolf and Martha retired in 2002 to Longwood, FL, where they were fortunate to be welcomed into home and church communities that have offered strength and support in sickness and in health. Wolf was able to relinquish his worldly obligations and worries peacefully because of his abiding faith in God. He left this world in quiet confidence that the love of his life, Martha, will continue to live in the steady and loving embrace of the friends and family who surround them, near and far.
A memorial service and celebration of Wolf's life and legacy will be held at St. Stephen Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10am. Interment in the memory garden will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following charitable organizations:
The Haitian Timoun Foundation (a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a future of hope, sustainability, and dignity for the children of Haiti by identifying visionary Haitian-led organizations in the areas of Education, Poverty Eradication, and Leadership Development) –Donations can be made through St. Stephen Lutheran Church
http://www.ststephen.org/
OR
The Brede-Wilkins Scholarship Fund (a fund for high school students who work at Village on the Green Senior Living Community, established by residents as a way to give back and help foster a culture of excellence and achievement in the Longwood area) – Donations can be made through Village on the Green
https://cffound.org/news/story/brede_wilkins_scholarship_fund#sthash.AOBjXzY9.dpbs