THOMPSON – John A. Weiss, 78, died Saturday, July 22, 2017 after being stricken ill at his home.
He leaves his wife of almost 55 years, Carol A. (Czernicki) Weiss; 2 sons, David A. Weiss and his wife Danielle, and Kenneth J. Weiss and his wife Candie, all of Thompson; a daughter, Cheryl A. Withers of Woodstock; 7 grandchildren, Hannah C., Matthew D., Cody A., Connor D. and Collin A. Weiss, and Nicole A. and Evelyn R. Withers; a great-grandson, Arthur D. Withers; a sister, Katherine Bates of North Smithfield, RI; many nephew and nieces.
He was born in Webster, a son of Arthur E. “Archie” and Nellie C. (Joslin) Weiss, and lived in Thompson all his life. In 1956, he graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School where he played point guard on the varsity basketball team. He was affectionately known as “Woodchuck.”
He served in the Army National Guard for 3 years during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Weiss first worked at Cranston Print Works Company in Webster for 10 years. He was an assembler at the General Motors Plant in Framingham for about 25 years until he retired. He then worked part-time for Precision Tool in Webster repairing small engines for about 20 years, retiring in 2009.
He was an accomplished carpenter and built picnic tables for local restaurants and individual homes. He created cribbage boards and miniature golf course furnishings. He enjoyed spending time working on his lawn and property. His favorite pastime was salt water fishing with his own home-made lures and fishing rods. His famous “Johnny Bang-O-Lures” pulled in many fish on the Thames River between Norwich and New London and around Barn Island in Stonington.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM in Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, Webster, concluding with a service at 5:45 PM. Donations in his name may be made to Harrington Hospital Cancer Center, 55 Sayles Street, Southbridge, MA 01550.