MAURICE (MAURY) J. WYSS, 83
MAURICE (MAURY) J. WYSS, 83, passed away April 30th at the Cedars Retirement Home in Leo, IN. Born at home and raised on a dairy farm near Monroeville, IN, he was the 6th of 13 children by Albert and Monica (Harkenrider) Wyss. He learned his 3 R’s, reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, at St. Rose Catholic Elementary School in Monroeville and attended Monroeville High School. At age 19 he enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served his country for 3 years. Upon successful completion of his military assignment in 1957, he began employment with General Telephone Company of Fort Wayne, IN. As a lineman, he worked on numerous difficult projects, some in adverse weather conditions and unscheduled hours, and was one of the first employees appointed to the company’s initial purchase of a bucket lift truck.
In 1968 he exchanged marriage vows with Lucile Higbee at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church where they were founding members and served on parish ministries together. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 330 of New Haven, IN and the Knights of Columbus.
As a military veteran, he volunteered 4,332 hours at the Fort Wayne VA Center and for his efforts was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the VA Volunteer Services in 2016.
Due to failing health, they entered the Cedars Care Facility and sold their home of nearly 50 years where they had enjoyed the company of, and in later years the support of, their neighbors.
An avid reader, Maury was intelligent, passionate and generous to the causes he believed in. Of his noteworthy memory of past events he would explain “It’s a gift from God”. His renowned “Be reasonable; do it my way” illustrated both his humor and his control of a given discussion. He enjoyed Polka music and dancing, the Fort Wayne German Fest (with beverage in hand), traveling with wife Lucile, gardening, time with family, friends and neighbors, any and all discussion of “Minny Mo’s” and the quarterly publication “The Prairie Gold Rush” that featured the beloved Minneapolis-Moline farm tractors, his favorite model being the M-670.
By contributing time, talent and resources to country, church, community and company, his fortune was in faith, family and friends. He passed with a “clean slate” and will be missed by all who knew him. By his efforts, ours is a better place; may he rest in peace in his new, better place.
He is survived by step-daughter Sue Ann Rupp (Josh Ingojo) of San Francisco, California; brothers Clifford (Monica) of Coldwater, Michigan, Marion Jean (Karla) and Gerard (Karen) both of Fort Wayne; brother-in-law Tom (Bobbi) Jackson of Indianapolis; sisters Therese (Carl) Sorg of Monroeville, Evelyn Beam and Mary Lourine Brososky both of Fort Wayne, Mary Lurana Travis of Springdale, Arkansas; sister-in-law Linda Wyss of Fort Wayne and 41 nephews and nieces and many great nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucile, parents Albert and Monica (Harkenrider) Wyss, brothers Ronald, Gerald, and Linden; sisters Rita Wicoff and Miriam Jane Jackson; brothers-in-law Robert Wicoff, Martin Travis, Richard Beam and Donald Brososky; sisters-in-law Alice (Crabill) Wyss and Ruth (Lapp) Wyss. Mass of Christian Burial was 11:00 am, Saturday, May 5th, 2018 at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, 7215 St. Joe Rd. with visitation 1-hour prior. Visitation also Friday, May 4th, 2018 from 4:00 pm-8:00 pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne with Rosary at 3:30 pm. Burial will be at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made for Masses at Our Lady of Good Hope, or to the Marine Corp League.
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- Celebrating 20 Years Of Community At The Stand - April 12, 2024
- First Positive Case Of Chronic Wasting Disease In Indiana - April 12, 2024
- Southwest Allen County Schools Embark On Major Tree Plantings - April 12, 2024