Obituary of Chester Wender

Chester “Red” Wender, 93, of Warren, NJ, passed away August 25th, 2020 at home, surrounded by family. He was born to the late Peter and Sofia Wender, May 14th, 1927 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He left high school early, to enlist as a Marine in WWII. After his service, he completed his GED and attended UMass Amherst (Aggies) on the GI Bill. While earning a degree in Agronomy, he also played on the hockey team! He met the love of his life, the late Marilyn Brenner, and married her in Verona NJ, August 29th, 1952. Red had a small construction business in East Hartford, CT, where he and Marilyn lived for their first year of marriage. They moved to Westfield, NJ and then Warren, NJ when Red took the Superintendent’s job at Plainfield Country Club. He remained there for over 40 years, and the Red Wender Grille was named in his honor. Chet loved nature and enjoyed spending time outdoors, taking great pride in caring for his yard. He was a shrewd card player and made a friend everywhere he went. Above all, he had a love of family. Particularly in the year since Marilyn’s passing, he enjoyed hearing from and spending time with, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Chet is survived by his four children: Brian of Los Angeles, CA; Deborah of Hopkinton, RI; Paul of White House Station, NJ; and Celeste of Quincy, MA. He is also survived by five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 30th from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. There will be a funeral mass 11:00 am, Monday August 31st at Our Lady of the Mount, Warren NJ, followed by a burial ceremony at Holy Cross Cemetery in Basking Ridge, NJ. Memorial flowers can be sent to the Higgins Home for Funerals however, Chet would be best remembered by planting a tree in his name.