June 23, 2015
It is with sadness to note the recent passing of Joseph B. Wisniewski. He was known to his friends as Joe or Wiz.
Joe was a World War II veteran, having served 25 years in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1969.
Joe served as Treasurer of the Eighth Congressional District Democratic Committee for many years and as Treasurer to a number of elected officials, including Senator Dick Saslaw, Delegate Vivian Watts, Supervisor and now Chairman Sharon Bulova, and Congressman Herb Harris.
Joe’s Family who he dearly loved, will receive friends at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA. 22151, on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. where a Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Joe’s obituary is in today’s Washington Post. The obituary captures Joe’s extensive political and community experience and his numerous honors.
It was truly an honor to know Joe who had a quiet voice of a generation that speaks to us of duty and honor, sacrifice and accomplishment.
Regards,
Margo Horner
Chair, Eighth Congressional District Democratic Committee
JOSEPH BERNARD WISNIEWSKI, JR. (Age 86) Of Warrenton, VA.;formerly of Springfield, VA; passed away June 19, 2015. He was born in Shamokin, Pa., on 3 November 1928, the son of Joseph Bernard Wisniewski, Sr., and Angelina Zaniewski Wisniewski. Joe attended Shamokin High School, where he was the Student Athletic Manager for the Shamokin Indians. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and was stationed in Munich, Germany, as a member of the Signal Corp, assigned to running the Bavarian Phone Company. There he met his future wife, Marianne Mitterweger, and they were married on 15 December 1951. He served in the Army for 25 years, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer in November 1969. In addition to Germany, his tours also included Korea and Viet Nam. He was awarded numerous medals including the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation. He specialized in telecommunications and was stationed in Maryland, Hawaii, California, Chicago, France, and Virginia. He was instrumental in setting up the Paris White House for Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. He and his family settled in Springfield, Va., in 1964 where Joe and Marianne lived until 2009. After the service, Joe continued to work in the telecommunications field, including managing and eventually owning Joe Smart’s Radio and TV Service, as well as founding Wiz Enterprise. At Joe Smart’s he was known for challenging and developing others, providing memorable mentoring and guidance to many younger workers. He often would clarify that he was not Joe Smart, but rather Joe Intelligent. Joe also forged a diverse, dedicated second career in serving his community. He was a leader in the Annandale Alcoholics Anonymous group. Known as Mr. Joe from his time in the Army, he dedicated innumerable hours to a wide range of campaigns and political organizations, including serving as treasurer for Congressman Herb Harris, Senator Richard Saslaw, Delegate Vivian Watts, Supervisors Audrey Moore and Sharon Bulova, and others, as well as for the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, the 8th District Democratic Committee, the Annandale District Democratic Committee and more. Joe also served as treasurer and on numerous boards including the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission, the National Consumers League, and the White House Conference on Small Business. He was awarded the inaugural Joseph V. Gartlan Award for community service to citizens of Fairfax County in 2008 and the Jefferson Jackson Award by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee in 1994. Beyond telecommunications, politics and community activism, Joe was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. He enjoyed music, traveling, collecting, and desserts, and was an avid fan of the Washington Redskins, the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators/Nationals. The love of Joe’s life was his wife, Marianne, who preceded him in death. Joe is survived by his children Karen A. Wisniewski and her husband Robert Boucher, Nina M.W. Oldham and her husband Mitchell, Vera A. Wisniewski and her husband Marco Sacasa, and Marc J.L. Wisniewski and his wife Cynthia Lamons. He is survived by his brother Robert Wisniewski and wife Arlene, and sister Gloria Orren and husband George, and he is preceded in death by his sister Delores Wisniewski. He is also survived by sister-in-law Paula Arnold, and close cousin Eike Mitterweger. Joe is the cherished Opa of Ingrid Boucher, Andy Wisniewski, Michael Wisniewski, Allison Oldham and Hisieni Wisniewski. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in the United States and Germany. The family will receive friends at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, Va., 22151, on Wednesday, 24 June 2015 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where a memorial service will be held on Thursday, 25 June at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the , Alcoholics Anonymous, Boys Town, The Joseph B. Wisniewski, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (for a graduating senior majoring in Political Science) to Annandale High School, or a www.demainefunerals.com The family will receive friends at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, Va., 22151, on Wednesday, 24 June 2015 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where a memorial service will be held on Thursday, 25 June at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the , Alcoholics Anonymous, Boys Town, The Joseph B. Wisniewski, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (for a graduating senior majoring in Political Science) to Annandale High School, or a www.demainefunerals.com
Published in The Washington Post on June 23, 2015