Guenther Herbert Hespeler, 89, passed away weeks shy of his 90th birthday, with his family by his side at Academy Point in Mystic where he, his brother and his children went to school. Herb was preceded proceeded in death by his loving wife, Ann Ponedel Hespeler. He is survived by his son Kurt Hespeler and his children Colleen, Grant and Emily of Andover MA; his daughter Laurel Christine Hespeler Gerhat, husband George, their children Jeffrey, Gregory, and Alison of Kure Beach, NC; his son Karl Hespeler, wife Michelle, and children Krista and Kyle of Marlborough CT; and his son Kraig Hespeler, wife Marcy and their children Brynn and Elijah of Stoneham MA. He is also survived by his girlfriend of two years Barbara Fontaine, his brother Theodore Hespeler and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Christina Bernhardt Hespeler and Richard Hespeler, both born in Germany.
Herb moved to Mystic in 1938, just in time for the hurricane. He was one of the first US workers at Pfizer and spent four years in the U.S. Air Fforce, achieving the rank of Staff Sargent. While stationed in Louisiana, he earned an Associate’s degree. He then excelled as a technical illustrator at Electric Boat for 33 years. He will be remembered by many things; his creative uses for EB green tape, sharing vegetables from his garden with those who walked past his house; his German potato salad and clam chowder. Herb designed and built the house that his family lived in for 50 years. His grandchildren loved spending weekends with him crafting projects in his woodshop. There was not a thing that he could not fix using the bounty of parts in the back of his antique pickup from cars to vacuum cleaners, never hiring a repairman. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up, never missing a sporting event, graduation or recital. He loved his family trips to Cape May NJ, Kure Beach NC and Thanksgivings in Vermont. He lived with vibrancy – from finishing 2rd in the state in the 880 yard dash in high school to playing volleyball at family picnics and chopping wood to heat the house in his mid-80’s. He instilled the values of hard work, honesty, commitment, being on time, and family values to his children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beat Parkinson’s Today (www.beatpdtoday.com).
Calling hours will be held from 3:30 – 6:30 PM at the Dinoto Funeral at 17 Pearl Street in Mystic on Wednesday, September 25th. A celebration of his life will follow immediately with a reception at Stonington Meadows at 769 Stonington Rd (Route 1) in Stonington, CT.
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