Robert Nelson Wessmiller

Obituary

For

Robert N. Wessmiller

December 24, 1923 - July 24, 2022

Robert Nelson Wessmiller, more simply known as “Bob” was born in Queens Village, NY in a white clad two-story house on Hollis Ave.  While the streets were busy, life was simple, and one could regularly hear the horse’s hoofs as they clopped by delivering milk, eggs, coal, and ice. Bob had two brothers, John J (Joe) and Charles Richard (Dick) and the three walked to school and played in the neighborhood.  Bob was the quiet one, who followed his oldest brother to baseball and ice hockey games hoping someday he would get to play.  The entire family loved summer activities and in 1928 Bob’s father, John had a house built in Quogue, NY.  For the early part of Bob’s life, Quogue was a summer home, with the men using it for duck hunting in the fall.  The family, but especially Bob loved Quogue, where family and friends would often gather for Mom’s (Lil’s) fabulous food, and later sit on the screened porch singing and telling wild tales to one another.  As boy’s, the three enjoyed riding the families three horses, swimming in the ocean and crabbing and clamming just down the road from the house.  By the time Bob was 18, World War II raised its ugly head.  Bob wanted to follow his two brothers to fight but was turned down due to a heart condition caused by rheumatic fever.  Determined to do his part he went to work for several aircraft companies, spending the most time at Republic Aviation.  There he worked twelve hour shifts supervising woman as they lovingly riveted planes together for our boys.  After the war, following in his father’s footsteps, he became a sales rep for American Standard Plumbing and Heating.  There he worked with large wholesalers who supplied boilers and fixtures to apartment buildings, schools, and churches all around the New York area.  It became well known that not only could he sell the equipment, but his keen knowledge of their inner workings helped many a contractor out of a tough spot.  As his parents aged, they decided to sell the house in Queens Village and make Quogue their permanent residence.  Bob couldn’t have been happier, even though it meant a two-hour drive daily to and from work. He lovingly cared for his parents; in a manner few children do.  He always put their needs ahead of his own, being thankful for all they did for him when he was young.  Bob rarely traveled preferring the quiet simple life that Quogue provided.  Bob grew up during the depression years and it impacted him, like most people for the rest of his life.  Some would say he was frugal but those that knew Bob well, knew he thoroughly enjoyed hand crafting items from what he had around the house.  He used his skill and Yankee ingenuity to keep the Quogue house in great condition.  After his father’s passing at 90 years old, he took his mother to a friend’s home for a visit.  There he met a pretty, young Ecuadorian woman, Elsa, who was caring for the friend.  Soon, Bob and Elsa became good friends.  A year or so after his mothers passing also at 90, he decided at age 67 to marry Elsa.  For the next 30 plus years, Bob and Elsa enjoyed one another’s company in a town that afforded them a quiet peaceful life they both so very much enjoyed.

Remaining family include Elsa R. Wessmiller, his wife, Robert J. Wessmiller, his nephew and godson, Raymond Wessmiller, his nephew, Anthony Lawrence, his nephew, and Elsa’s children from her first marriage, Konrad, Jaime, and Klaus Schmidt.  Elsa’s children, along with Robert J. Wessmiller, lovingly assisted both Bob and Elsa, making Bob’s final years as comfortable as possible.

A mass on Saturday August 6th at 10:00 AM will be held at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Westhampton, NY, followed by his internment at the Quogue Cemetery, Quogue, NY.

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