August 12, 1920 - July 24, 2013
COOPERSTOWN - Elmer Sylvester Fenstemacher, formerly of Cooperstown, died unexpectedly early Wednesday morning, July 24, 2013, at his residence in Wiley Hall at The Masonic Care Community of New York in Utica. He was 92.
Born August 12, 1920, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Elmer was a son of Leon and Margaret (Rosina) Fenstemacher.
On August 13, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. He received training on Long Island, as well as in Florida and Virginia, and at one point was stationed at Greens Ledge Lighthouse located on Long Island Sound near Norwalk, CT. He received his honorable discharge on January 2, 1945.
For many years, Elmer was employed by IBM in Endicott, where he worked as a plating technician.
After living for a time in Arizona, Elmer and his wife, Ruth, moved back East in 1995 and settled in the Cooper Lane Apartments in Cooperstown. In 2006, they moved to The Masonic Care Community of New York in Utica.
A member of the Masonic Fraternity for 63 years, Elmer was Raised in Vestal Lodge No. 1144, Free and Accepted Masons in 1950, and served the Lodge at one time as Worshipful Master. After moving to Cooperstown, he began visiting Otsego Lodge No. 138, F. & A.M. and formally affiliated with them on February 3, 1998. Elmer was also a member of Otsego Chapter No. 26, Royal Arch Masons in Cooperstown, and Kalurah Shrine, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S) in Endicott. He and his wife were currently members of the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Ruth, who resides in the Health Pavilion at The Masonic Care Community of New York in Utica; two sons, Keith A. Fenstemacher and his wife, Cara, of New Hartford, and Eric L. Fenstemacher of New Berlin; and 2 granddaughters, Corey Fenstemacher-Schruntek of Brooklyn and Jessica Fenstemacher of Chicago, Illinois.
A Funeral Service, including the Masonic Memorial Service, will be offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 2013, in the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel at the Masonic Care Community of New York, 2150 Bleecker Street, Utica, with Pastor David Zoeckler officiating.
Interment with Military Honors will be later the same day in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville.
The Fenstemacher family expresses their sincere appreciation to the caring staff at Wiley Hall. To this end, they respectfully request that, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts be made to the Masonic Care Community, 2150 Bleecker Street, Utica, NY 13501.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
