Mountainside
Melvin George Wistner, age 95, of Mountainside, NJ (previously Princeton, NJ and Yonkers, NY) went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, on February 27, 2016. He sought to honor the Lord in all he did, all his life, and the Lord honored him.
Mel was born December 19, 1920 in Buffalo, NY to the late Edward and Willhemina (Braun) Wistner. He was born-again by and through, the power of God at age 16 at a gospel meeting in Churchill Tabernacle, in Buffalo.
Mel was a graduate of Moody Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL in 1944 upon completing majors in Bible, Evangelism, and Missions. In his mid-50s, he returned to university for additional bachelor of arts degree at Fairleigh Dickenson University and a master of science in education at Long Island University.
In 1945, Grace Chapel, Evanston, IL, and in 1946, Terrill Road Bible Chapel, Fanwood, NJ commended Mel to go forth in full time service to God's work of love, grace, mercy and salvation through his Son. This special work would continue for over 65 years. During those years, he spent two years in Puerto Rico as a missionary, spent ten years with the New York Bible Society (now Biblica International) testifying of God's love among the Spanish-speaking people in Spanish Harlem and among the port of New York employees on and off the ships. Additionally, Mel conducted special children's activities including summer Bible camps, vacation Bible schools, as well as ministering and teaching God's word to multiple churches in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the islands of the Bahamas.
Besides his wife of 42 years, Helen, he is survived by three daughters, Janet Gibson and Joan Callender of Westfield, NJ, and Rebecca Wistner of Greenbrook, NJ; son, Mark Loizeaux Wistner of Westfield, NJ; son-in-law Jeffrey Charles Callender and daughter-in-law, Erin O'Brien Wistner of Westfield, NJ; four grandchildren, Scott Parker Callender, Bradford Lawrence Drew Gibson, Emily Lewis Wistner, and Catherine Quinlan Wistner, of Westfield, NJ; and other members of the Bigge, Bowman, Burgess, Dalby, Frye, Grimaldi, Kutyla, Loizeaux, Mewha, Nosbisch, Patterson, Perrin, Piko, Pope, Skolowec, and Wistner families.
Including his parents, first wife Jessie Loizeaux Wistner, a son-in-law Dr. Lawrence Robert Gibson, Mel was predeceased by his two Wistner brothers, Edward and Lawrence, and sister Dorothy Wistner McCoy, and the three step brothers and two step sisters of the Shaw family.
Family and friends are invited to Terrill Road Bible Chapel, 535 Terrill Road, Fanwood, NJ for a time to share memories and encouragement to the bereaved family, Saturday, March 5, 2016. The chapel will be open to greet you at 10am, with a memorial service to commence at 11:30am
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML) P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762, designated to the Children's Education Fund.
The Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, 15 Cherry Lane, Parlin, NJ 08859 is so greatly appreciated for assisting and guiding the family through this difficult time.