Obituary of Siegmar K. Tessarzik

SIEGMAR K. TESSARZIK

GUILDERLAND - Siegmar K. Tessarzik died peacefully at home on Saturday, December 30, 2023 after a long illness. Born on April 2, 1940 in Treuburg, East Prussia to the late Friedrich and Käthe (Turowski) Tessarzik, Siegmar and his family fled to West Germany in 1945, where he grew up in Winsen (Luhe), near Hamburg.

Siegmar had a brilliant mechanical mind and briefly studied mechanical engineering in Germany, before immigrating to the United States in 1969 to join his older brother, Jürgen. He earned an accounting degree at the University at Albany and retired after 32 years of work for the State of New York, first in the Department of Audit and Control, and later OMRDD.

He met his beloved wife, Theresa, in 1974, and they were married on May 29, 1976 at Christ the King Church in Albany, NY.

Siegmar was very handy and enjoyed applying his many skills to wood-working projects, vehicle repair, and projects around the house. He devoted several years to planning and building his home in Altamont and completed much of the work on it himself. He was a model of self-reliance, creativity, and frugality, and he generally insisted on doing home improvement projects himself, and refused to buy something new when his repairs would work just as well.

He enjoyed bringing his children to visit relatives in Germany and sharing German traditions with his family, particularly around Christmas time. Fond memories include celebrating Sankt Nikolaustag, decorating the Christmas tree - always a live tree which he cut down himself - with wooden ornaments from Germany and foil-wrapped chocolate ornaments, and lighting real candles on the tree on Christmas Eve.

Siegmar will be greatly missed by his wife, Theresa (Miller) Tessarzik and his children, Janine Tessarzik and Karsten (April) Tessarzik. He was a loving Opa to his cherished grandchildren, Robert Kuestner, Kolbe, Marilee, and Siena Tessarzik. He is also survived by his brother, Jürgen (Ilse) Tessarzik, many brothers- and sisters-in-law, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours at St. Ambrose Church, 347 Old Loudon Rd, Latham, from 9-11am on Saturday, January 6, 2024. A funeral mass will be offered Saturday at 11am at St. Ambrose, with a reception in the parish center to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, Pawtucket, RI (https://www.littlesistersofthepoorpawtucket.org/donate/).

Arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the care of the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, Latham.