Obituary for William Happ II
William Happ, ll age 95, a resident of Hopewell Junction and Poughkeepsie, died at Wingate of Dutchess on April 18, 2021.
Born in South Bend, Indiana on August 4, 1925, he was the son of the late Robert Happ and Helen Lang. He attended Bowdoin College, Maine prior to the start of WW ll. Will interrupted his education to volunteer for service in the US Navy. While in the Navy he studied at the Japanese Language School in Colorado, ending his service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1946.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Will returned to Bowdoin College to finish his undergraduate degree. He then pursued graduate studies at Colombia University in New York City where he received a master’s degree.
Will taught at Rutgers University and was also a playwright, several of his plays were performed off Broadway in the 1950’s.
In 1962 he moved to Hopewell Junction and in 1965 he started teaching at Dutchess Community College in the English and Humanities Department. In 1989 he retired as a Professor Emeritus.
He was predeceased by a long time friend Dr. William Bond in 2007; his brother Robert Glenn Happ; his parents; and Michael Tomkovitch who spent many years as his trusted advisor. He leaves behind his devoted caregivers: Liz Pavelka, Anne Kasin and Carleigh Koren.
The Funeral will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, 182 Route 376, Hopewell Junction. Calling hours will be at the church at 10:30am on Thursday, April 22, 2021. A service will follow at 11am with The Rev. Jan Kotuby, officiating.
Military honors will follow the service.
Will’s cremains will be buried in his family plot in South Bend, Indiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Resurrection, 182 Route 376, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.
Born in South Bend, Indiana on August 4, 1925, he was the son of the late Robert Happ and Helen Lang. He attended Bowdoin College, Maine prior to the start of WW ll. Will interrupted his education to volunteer for service in the US Navy. While in the Navy he studied at the Japanese Language School in Colorado, ending his service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1946.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Will returned to Bowdoin College to finish his undergraduate degree. He then pursued graduate studies at Colombia University in New York City where he received a master’s degree.
Will taught at Rutgers University and was also a playwright, several of his plays were performed off Broadway in the 1950’s.
In 1962 he moved to Hopewell Junction and in 1965 he started teaching at Dutchess Community College in the English and Humanities Department. In 1989 he retired as a Professor Emeritus.
He was predeceased by a long time friend Dr. William Bond in 2007; his brother Robert Glenn Happ; his parents; and Michael Tomkovitch who spent many years as his trusted advisor. He leaves behind his devoted caregivers: Liz Pavelka, Anne Kasin and Carleigh Koren.
The Funeral will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, 182 Route 376, Hopewell Junction. Calling hours will be at the church at 10:30am on Thursday, April 22, 2021. A service will follow at 11am with The Rev. Jan Kotuby, officiating.
Military honors will follow the service.
Will’s cremains will be buried in his family plot in South Bend, Indiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Resurrection, 182 Route 376, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.