HARTWICK – Walter George Haldenwang, Jr., a long-time resident of Hartwick, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Riverside Adult Foster Home in La Grande, Oregon. He was 81.
Born December 12, 1939, in Jersey City, New Jersey, he was the son of Walter George Haldenwang and Agnes Mayer Haldenwang, both natives of Ofterdingen, Germany.
After living in Ridgefield, New Jersey for the first nine years of his life, Walter and his parents moved to Hartwick in 1948. He helped plant many trees on the family property, an activity which fostered a life-long love of trees and the woods. He was also employed on his parent’s poultry farm while attending Hartwick High School, until the school closed in 1957. He then attended Cooperstown High School, graduated in 1958, and then attended the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical Institute at Morrisville, graduating in 1960 with an Associate’s Degree in Forestry.
From 1960 to 1965, Walter was employed by John Deere Co. in Syracuse until he was drafted into the United States Army in January 1965. He served most of his tour of duty at the Echterdingen Army Air Field near Stuttgart, Germany, which gave him the opportunity to connect with some of his family there. He received his Honorable Discharge from military service in January 1967.
Upon returning stateside, Walter became employed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Stamford, and rose through the ranks to become the Senior Forestry Technician. For health reasons he retired from this position in 1983.
He returned home to Hartwick, yet continued to maintain an active interest in forestry affairs and the environment. He also enjoyed hunting for deer and liked music. In 2010 he moved from New York to La Grande, Oregon to be near his friends and caretakers. Active as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he was an active member of The Schuyler Lake Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was a part of the North La Grande Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Survivors include cousins in Germany and New York State and his dear friends and caretakers, Patricia and Michael Corcoran of La Grande, Oregon.
Walter’s final resting place will be alongside his parents in Hartwick Cemetery, appropriately enough under a tree.
A virtual memorial service will be held via Zoom on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The Meeting ID is 738 748 1050 and the Passcode is 191407.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
