Hannelore Kissam

WESTPORT-Hannelore Kissam, 83, died on November 13, 2023 with her family by her side.

She was born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on December 16, 1939, daughter of Hans and Anni Wellbrock. Hanna was raised and educated in Germany and graduated with a degree in International Banking. She worked at the American Express in Stuttgart and the Dresdener Bank in Hamburg.

In 1966 she immigrated to the U.S. and worked for the Perera Company in NYC as a Foreign Exchange Trader from 1966 to 1971. She loved to remind all that she came to the U.S. for a year and never left. She married George Turk in 1967. When they moved to New Russia, NY she worked at the Champlain National Bank, and in 1981 started work at the Bruce L. Crary Foundation in Elizabethtown from where she retired in 2004 as Executive Director. The Foundation Board especially valued her input and advocacy for the non-traditional student scholarship applicants whom she cared for as her own, following their path through education and beyond. Hanna was a Trustee of the Elizabethtown Social Center and the Cora Putnam Hale Trust; on the Board and Treasurer of the Elizabethtown Cemetery Assn.; member of the Board, Treasurer and volunteer for AuSable Valley Habitat of Humanity in Elizabethtown.

Hanna married William (Bill) Kissam in 1991. Their home along Lake Shore Road became known for her splendid vegetable and flower gardens. Hanna's passion for her garden and our Mother Earth went far beyond the fruits of her labors. Hanna loved bugs. Hanna loved all the creepies and crawlies with whom she would develop friendship. She could predict the day the hummingbirds would arrive and when they would leave for the season. She had two snakes in her garden whom she held especially dear and would sit on her porch with her coffee waiting for them to visit.

Those closest to Hanna most appreciated her impressive knowledge and concern for Worldly economics and Government as well as her cunning humor and ability to combine the two. Hanna had a talent for gathering the perfect group around her dining table which would be impeccably adorned and often included her precious decorative bugs and impressive gastronomic menu of elaborate German fare, Chinese fondue and a talent for making a pizza seem extraordinary.

Hanna is survived by twin granddaughters Lucia and Olivia of Portland, OR; stepsons Todd Kissam and his wife Heather and son Simon of Bloomington, IN, and Mark Kissam of Palm Springs, CA. Survivors of her family in Germany include her brother-in-law Frerke Hoepken, nephew Cord Hoepken and his wife Elena and children Katharina and Jan-Cord; and her niece Petra and husband Peter Dammann and son Paul.

Hanna is predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Georg Wellbrock, her sister Christa and her nephew Joerg Hoepken, all of Germany; her son Erol M. Turk of Houston, TX and her husband Bill.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Hanna's life will be held at a later time, yet any may honor her memory in making our world more beautiful by planting flowers, or a donation of your time or funds to Habitat for Humanity.

Arrangements were entrusted to Heidrick Funeral Home, Elizabethtown.