John D. Auwarter

John D. Auwarter Jr, 91, of Smithville Flats , NY died at Good Shepherd Village in Endwell, NY on April 25, 2024. He is survived by his five children, Dawn (Timothy) Rocak, Scott (Luz Real)Auwarter, Kristen (Michael) Viggianelli, Karen (Myles) Prior, Jill (Keith) Hochreiter; fifteen grandchildren, Catherine, Rebekah, Carmen (Miguel), Jared, Katherine (Andres), Hassan, Sara, Elizabeth (Mike),John, Patrick, Michael, Caroline, Eric, Andy, Evelyn; two great-grand daughters, Adeline and Madison and two on the way. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife Phyllis Auwarter, parents; John and Meta Hansmann Auwarter, brothers; Roderick, Fredrick and sister, Meta Green.

John was born in 1933 to John and Meta Hansmann Auwarter. He graduated from Greene Central High School in 1951 and began his sales career working at Hansmann’s Mills, his family business. During this time, he called upon many local businesses selling Hansmann’s pancake flour throughout upstate New York. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Phyllis Alderman. Two years later they bought a run down house in an auction for $5,000. They spent the next 60 years fixing it up where it proudly became one of the “nicest houses” in Smithville Flats. In 1959 John was offered a company car and health insurance and went to work for Beech-Nut Company as a sales representative and then a Unit Manager. From there, he worked for Tetley Inc. where he held many positions, including branch manager and broker. Prior to retiring in 1994, he was honored by Tetley, Inc. as Broker of the Year for the entire US.

John proudly belonged to the Masonic Lodge #126 of Greene, NY and the Greene Chapter #106 of the Royal Arch Masons for 70 years. He served as assistant chief and secretary for the Genegantslet Fire Company. He also served as board president for four years. He was voted fireman of the year in 1975. John was an active member of the Boy Scouts and a Republican committeeman. For many years, he served as a town board member, as well as town assessor, and a grievance board member for the town of Smithville Flats. John was a devoted member of the First Congregational Church in Greene, NY where he served on finance, trustee, pastoral, deacon, and stewardship committees. John was also a member of the Greene Lions Club.

He spent the later part of his life traveling throughout the United States, visiting family in California and Oregon, playing golf, restoring his Maytag Racer and working in his yard. 

John valued honesty, hard work, loyalty, friendship and family values. He was a gifted story teller with an impeccable memory for people and the places he had been. Everyone he met loved to hear him talk about the history of Hansmann’s Mills, his memories of Smithville or his life on the road as a salesman. He had a big personality and a great sense of humor. He was resilient and he lived life on his own terms. He loved people, Sunday drives, orange pineapple ice-cream and making lists, but his family was his pride and joy. He relished in all their accomplishments and bragged about them to anyone who would listen. John was remarkable and loved. He will be incredibly missed by all who knew him.

His family would like to thank Good Shepherd Village for providing John such a wonderful place to live for the past five years and for their kind and compassionate care in the last few weeks of his life. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Genegantselet Fire Company, the First Congregational Church in Greene or Good Shepherd Village. His family would like to thank Good Shepherd Village for providing John such a wonderful place to live for the past five years and for their kind and compassionate care in the last few weeks of his life. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Genegantselet Fire Company, the First Congregational Church in Greene or Good Shepherd Village.

Friends of the family may call from 11:00am until 12:00pm Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at the First Congregational Church UCC in Greene. A Masonic Service conducted by Eastern Light Lodge #126 will start at 12:00pm. The funeral service will immediately follow the Masonic Service at the church. Burial will follow at Sylvan Lawn Cemetery in Greene. Arrangements are under the direction of Root Funeral Home, 23 N. Chenango Street, Greene, NY 13778 and condolences may be sent to the family at www.rootfh.com. 

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