LAGRANGEVILLE-Harry Wenning, an area resident for 38 years, died peacefully at home on August 24, 2012 with his family by his side. Born in Elizabeth, NJ on February 16, 1928, he was the son of John and Kate Sommer Wenning.

He was a 1945 graduate of Bloomfield High School, NJ where he was captain of the BHS football team and made All-State and All-County for being an outstanding tackle. He was also a member of the swimming team and excelled in track and field.

After graduating from BHS, Harry attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia with a scholastic-athletic scholarship where he graduated with a BS degree in mathematics. He made the football and track varsity teams in his freshman year. In track, he was Virginia State Champ, Big Six Champ and Southern Conference Champ in javelin throw. In football, he had the privilege of playing in the Delta Bowl at Memphis, Tenn. against Oklahoma A&M.

He was drafted by the Washington Redskins but declined the offer to continue his education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he helped create the rugby team and became the leading scorer for the team, playing for three years. He graduated from MIT with a bachelor's degree in architecture and a minor in building engineering.

He was then hired by a subsidiary of Standard Oil of NJ, Int'l Petroleum Corp., which sent him to Peru, S.A. as an architect and construction supervisor, designing housing, schools, public buildings, churches, sewage treatment plants and roads--everything that was required for a new company city of 40,000 people. After two years at age 26, he was drafted out of Peru by the US Army and served two years, mainly in Germany, as a map editor.

Back in the USA, Harry worked for an architect in White Plains. As soon as he earned his license, he set up his own office and continued what he had been doing in Peru, that is, design and build, not in vogue at the time. He was a pioneer in the field of solar energy, both passive and active, and the applications have been used in many of his designs. His work has been published in many magazines and newspapers throughout the country.

Harry was an avid snow skier, water skier, swimmer and diver. He loved tennis, playing 3-4 times a week winning gold and silver medals at the senior Olympics. He also loved gardening; in spring his home was a sea of yellow daffodils, jonquils and forsythias. Then came the hot pink azaleas and purple lilacs, followed by dinner plate dahlias, zinnias, lilies and colorful mums. For many years, he grew a fabulous vegetable garden including a pumpkin of about 350 lbs.

He will be remembered as a fun loving, hard-working, optimistic, super friendly, creative, thoughtful, generous, humble and simply a kind, wonderful man who loved life every day. Many called him genius.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Doris Wenning; his daughter, Michelle Wenning Eklund; three grandchildren, Erika, Richard and Bryan Eklund; a great grandson, Camden Eklund Algie; his brother, John Wenning; sister-in-law, Lee; sister-in-law, Evelyn Smith; and son-in-law, Ken Eklund. He was predeceased by his son, Richard Wenning, 18, in 1978.

We would like to thank the LaGrange Fire Department for all their help during the past two years, Hospice and all of our other helpers.

Calling Hours will be held Sunday, August 26 at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction from 2-5 p.m. with the Funeral Service at 4 p.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

For directions or online condolences, please visit www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.