Obituary of Heinz Weissenbuehler

Heinz Weissenbuehler of Big Flats, N.Y., age 83, passed away in Elmira on March 22, 2018. He was surrounded by loving family, both near and far, and moved on from this earth in dignity.Heinz Weissenbuehler was born on December 24, 1934 in Schwaebisch-Hall, Germany as the only child to the late Herman & Maria Butz Weissenbuehler. Educated in Germany as a tool and die maker, his first job was with MAHLE KG, in Stuttgart. Despite promising career opportunities, he defied his families' wishes and set his sights on America. In the fall of 1955, at the age of 21, he sailed into New York harbor with $90 in his pocket, a job with Bergenfield Development Company in N.J., and the hope that the girl back home would eventually follow him. Two years later, in 1957, the U.S. Draft Board gave him three weeks off for an "out-and-return" to Germany to collect his bride. He got engaged to and married Elsbeth Maikler before returning to N.J., then waited for three months for her to sail across the Atlantic and join him to start their life together. They have been married 60 years. Later in 1958, he was drafted into the USAF Critical Skills Program, a 10-year assignment for work in the defense industry. Heinz loved his garden; he grew his own vegetables and berries and created a backyard oasis enjoyed by family and many friends. Yet, his big love was flying and soaring. He started soaring as a young man in Germany on the Einkorn, a small airfield a few miles from his parents' home. Once in the U.S., he spent his first paychecks on getting his single engine airplane and seaplane ratings in Little Ferry, N.J. When he read that Schweizer Aircraft had launched a new design for a single seat glider, he traveled to Horseheads on a Sunday, and climbed over the fence of the closed Schweizer factory to have a closer look at the brand new Schweizer 1-26. This is when he met Paul A. Schweizer and the two became life-long friends. One of their collaborations was to build the first exhibits for the National Soaring Museum. After he kit-built his own Schweizer 1-26 in his N.J. garage, Heinz and Elsbeth decided in the fall of 1965 to move their family to Big Flats, N.Y., and close to Harris Hill, the Soaring Capital of America. It was in the basement of their Big Flats home where he build his second sailplane, an HP-14. In the spring of 1966 he became a member of HHSC (Harris Hill Soaring Corp.) and has been an active member, flying gliders and towplanes, for 52 years.From 1965 till his retirement in January 2000, Heinz worked for Glendale Manufacturing a Division of Bennett Die & Tool, Inc. Among his children, grandchildren, and his extended Harris Hill family, Heinz was known as "Opa". Opa was a kind, peace-loving, well-read man–respectful of nature and all mankind. His typical way of greeting friends was with a smile, the V-sign, and one single word "Peace". He is survived by his devoted wife Elsbeth; his son and daughter-in-law Heinz G. Weissenbuehler and Karin Schl?sser (Elmira); daughter and son-in-law Eva and Tim Green (Wales, U.K.); daughter and partner Andrea Weissenbuehler and John Thywissen (Austin, Texas); granddaughters Caroline (Enid, Okla.), Nicole (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Hannah (the Netherlands); and great grandson Sawyer. The family would like to thank the Elcor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for all their good and loving care for Heinz over the course of the past two years.In lieu of flowers those wishing may make a donation in Heinz' name to the National Soaring Museum, 51 Soaring Hill Drive, Elmira, NY 14903 A Celebration of Heinz's Life will be planned in the future. Words of Condolence and Memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com .Arrangements are entrusted to the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS , NY.