Wilbert Strumfeld

My funny, great-hearted husband Wilbert Strumfeld, 97, of Milltown, NJ died peacefully at St Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick on Monday, July 10, 2023 after a short illness.

He had a traumatic start in life as a boy, when he lost his three primary caregivers, his mother, grandmother and aunt within the same week. Following which, his father with a watch business to run in order to support his family, had to place Will and his two siblings, Hildreth and Alvin in the care of Newark’s Jewish Children’s Home.  Despite this, Will managed to keep a buoyant and grateful spirit throughout his life.  He made his father burst with pride by winning a full scholarship to Harvard upon maturing out of the Children’s Home

He joined the US Army immediately for a year and-a- half near the end of WWII, and then signed up with the U.S. Coast Guard, during which ship took hundreds of British War Brides to the US to rejoin their Yank husbands.

Though he spent most of his adult life as a stock broker, after retirement at 65 spent another 20 years selling at Englishtown, NJ’s Flea Market – a real pleasure for a man as gregarious as Will, who delighted collaring buyers from around the world and having them teach him how to say “thank you” in Chinese, Danish, Russian, German, etc.

He is survived by wife Beatrice ODonnell of Milltown, NJ; Daughter Jennifer Strumfeld and husband Steven Morley of Juneau, AK, and grandchildren, Finn and Maisy; Step-son Stephen Field and wife Elena of Old Bridge, NJ and grandchildren Mary Rosa and Christian. Step-daughter Pamela Field and husband Ralph Zurmuhle of Barcelona, Spain; Step-son Edward Field of Ewing, NJ; Step-daughter Alicia Manzo of Alpha, NJ; Sister-in-law, Maureen (ODonnell) Spisak and her late husband G. William II (Bill) of Melbourne, FL; Sister-in-law Margaret (ODonnell) Krako, and her husband Walter of Cranford, NJ; 

Also survived by his Nephew Christopher Krako of GlenCove, NY; Nieces Jennifer (Krako) Laurie, Margaret (Krako) Buontempo and Caitlin Krako of Cranford, NJ, and Tracy Spisak Vitamvas of Kansas City, MO and the late G. William Spisak III (Billy) of Melbourne, FL

Services are private.  Arrangements are by The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 North Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown, NJ.  You may sign the online condolence “guestbook” at www.crabiel.com