Wissingers’ talents seen in hobbies and service

Alice and John Wissinger met as students at the University of Cincinnati. Alice had come from Dayton, Ohio to study interior design, and John had come from Pittsburgh to study industrial design. They married while still in school, and remained in Cincinnati where their daughter, Gayle, was born. Their son Gordon was born in four years later.

During John’s professional life, the Wissingers have lived in five states (four of them twice, including Michigan). Ten years ago, they moved to Brighton, Michigan and designed and built their present home north of Chelsea. Currently John works as a senior industrial designer at Thetford-Norcold, where he designs recreational vehicle refrigerators and toilets.

John was the youngest of four children. His parents attended a Methodist church, where John was baptized, and later a Presbyterian church closer to their home, where John remembers attending regularly.

John is a model railroad enthusiast. In his spare time he works on his ho gauge train layout, a “small town” with custom-built streets and buildings. The realistic details he has carefully constructed include small scale trolleys with overhead contact wires. He also enjoys woodworking, and some photography, each used in conjunction with model railroad building. He has been an active member of the National Model Railroad Association for 36 years and has a small part in planning the 2007 national meeting in Detroit. He enjoys listening to classical music, and he and Alice like to attend symphony concerts.

Alice was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and has two siblings. Her family was very active in an Episcopal church; she became a Presbyterian after meeting John.

Although she was a full-time mom and did not “work” as an interior designer, Alice uses her skills in her own home. She enjoys sewing, which she has done as a business. Presently she is active in Westminster’s Charity Needle Crafters group, where she has sewn some lap quilts for nursing home residents. She has remained active in the Monday Bible Study at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton where she and John previously attended. This group takes on charity projects suggested by the Detroit Presbytery, such as making prayer quilts (prayed over as they are made, so the recipient and wearer is surrounded by prayer) or putting together ditty bags (filled with necessities for emergency needs) for the Salvation Army.

Alice works part time at the Chelsea Pharmacy. She loves to wear hats, and usually wears one to church. Some other hobbies include working jigsaw and crossword puzzles, gardening and reading. She and John both enjoy their two pet cats.

John and Alice designed their present home and together built the beautiful stone fireplace in the family room. It is adorned with some precious family heirlooms. John is using his building skills to complete work on the lower level of their home.

John and Alice were deacons in former churches, and John has been an elder. They have found Westminster to be welcoming and friendly, and enjoy the services and especially the music. John ushers every other month. With John approaching retirement, they have bought a recreational vehicle, and one day hope to travel the country. It will be a good time to look up old friends known through work or model railroad interests. With so many hobbies and interests, there will be plenty to do during retirement!