Obituary for Henry Grant Wiswell
ORRINGTON - Henry Grant Wiswell, 94, died Monday, March 13, 2023, with his loving family by his side. He was born May 21, 1928, in Orrington, the son of Howard Barbour and Evelyn (Harriman) Wiswell.
Henry and his siblings were raised by their father and grandparents on the Orrington family farm. At an early age, Henry and his brothers, Everett and Robert, learned that hanging on to the farm was a tough and serious business! Even so, all three boys had a great sense of humor and could find fun and laughter in hard work. Henry skipped two primary grades and graduated Valedictorian from the Brewer High School. A blind date with Lucille “Molly” Millett, of Lincoln, ended with them recently celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary. He started up a soil sample drilling business, Northeast Soil Services, which he owned and operated for 25 years. In 1980, Henry inherited the family farm. He continued its “working farm” agricultural traditions and expanded it into a seasonal family greenhouse business. The Wiswell Farm Greenhouse stayed in operation until 2022. Henry was an avid reader; he loved to learn, to invent, build, improvise and improve things. He had an engineers’ mind with a farmers’ ability to make do, save a dollar, or an hours’ worth of labor. He was president of the Orrington Historical Society for over 30 years, served as President of the Marston Cemetery Association, and was on the Board of Directors for the Orrington Volunteer Ambulance Service.
In addition to his brothers, Everett and Robert, he was predeceased by his sister, Kay, when she was 7 years old. Henry also lost his son, Henry Douglas Wiswell, in 1991, at the age of 38. In addition to his wife, Molly, he is survived by his daughter, Joan “Jody” DeCesere and her husband, Vincent; granddaughter, Nicole “Nikki” Fletcher and her husband, Arthur; great-grandsons, Garrett and Jacob; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and life-long friends. He will be deeply missed.
May you find love and comfort with those who went before you.
A Celebration of Henry’s Life will be held in the Spring of 2023, at the Orrington Historical Society building. Those who wish to remember Henry in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Orrington Historical Society, P.O. Box 94, Orrington, ME. 04474 Attn. Mr. Keith Bowden.
Henry and his siblings were raised by their father and grandparents on the Orrington family farm. At an early age, Henry and his brothers, Everett and Robert, learned that hanging on to the farm was a tough and serious business! Even so, all three boys had a great sense of humor and could find fun and laughter in hard work. Henry skipped two primary grades and graduated Valedictorian from the Brewer High School. A blind date with Lucille “Molly” Millett, of Lincoln, ended with them recently celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary. He started up a soil sample drilling business, Northeast Soil Services, which he owned and operated for 25 years. In 1980, Henry inherited the family farm. He continued its “working farm” agricultural traditions and expanded it into a seasonal family greenhouse business. The Wiswell Farm Greenhouse stayed in operation until 2022. Henry was an avid reader; he loved to learn, to invent, build, improvise and improve things. He had an engineers’ mind with a farmers’ ability to make do, save a dollar, or an hours’ worth of labor. He was president of the Orrington Historical Society for over 30 years, served as President of the Marston Cemetery Association, and was on the Board of Directors for the Orrington Volunteer Ambulance Service.
In addition to his brothers, Everett and Robert, he was predeceased by his sister, Kay, when she was 7 years old. Henry also lost his son, Henry Douglas Wiswell, in 1991, at the age of 38. In addition to his wife, Molly, he is survived by his daughter, Joan “Jody” DeCesere and her husband, Vincent; granddaughter, Nicole “Nikki” Fletcher and her husband, Arthur; great-grandsons, Garrett and Jacob; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and life-long friends. He will be deeply missed.
May you find love and comfort with those who went before you.
A Celebration of Henry’s Life will be held in the Spring of 2023, at the Orrington Historical Society building. Those who wish to remember Henry in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Orrington Historical Society, P.O. Box 94, Orrington, ME. 04474 Attn. Mr. Keith Bowden.