Obituary of Carl J. Hess, Sr.

Carl Jacob Hess, Sr, 85, of Bangor, PA, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2025 in Bangor, PA.

Carl was born on January 7, 1940 at Fourth Street in Belvidere, New Jersey to the late Jacob W. Hess and Gertrude E. Moser Hess. He went to Belvidere High School, played the trumpet in marching band and graduated in 1957.  He graduated from the Warren County New Jersey Fire Academy in 1960 and was a dedicated lifetime member of 64 years at Good Will Fire Company No. 1, Belvidere. He was currently serving as president of the Belvidere Firemen’s Relief Association. He worked at the plant in Belvidere for a total of 39 years which was under the ownership of Celanese, Inmont, and BASF in various positions including safety officer and Chief of the Fire Brigade.

Carl was known to his family and friends as “Buzz, Buzzy, Crow and Hessy”.  He enjoyed playing his organ, dancing the Polka, and could be found often at a local festival or oldies dance. He enjoyed his cigars, collecting PA train memorabilia, fishing, canoeing, motorboating, roller-skating, and riding his bicycle. He was also fond of calling the duck race for the Belvidere Volunteer Fire Co annual fund raiser on the Pequest River. He looked forward to weekends catching up with the folks in Belvidere at Uncle Bucks Diner and then going on to the flea market at Five Acres to find a good deal. He could often be found out back tinkering with lawn mowers and bicycles. He salvaged many a lawn mower and bicycle over the years, and people would seek him out for a “good deal.”  He was a regular at the Blue Mountain Antique Gas and Steam Engine Show in the Jacktown Grove down the street from his house and was famous for his coinciding yard sales.

Carl was of Christian faith, and favorite verse was John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”.

He is survived by Janet Jones with whom he lived with for 39 yrs. Joan “Joanna” Hess, former wife of 26 yrs and mother of his children. His children, Carl J. Hess, Jr. of Easton. PA, Kelly (Dana) Danielson of Buckfield, ME, Ken Hess of Bangor, PA, Karen (Robert) Olszewski of Plant City, FL, and Faith (Jeffery) Vincent of Virginia Beach, VA. Eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his sisters. Mary Hess Speck and Joyce Hess Riddle.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Good Will Fire Co, 689 Water St. Belvidere, NJ 07823.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to everyone at St. Lukes Hospice and Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation for all their kind care for Carl in his last days.

Friends may call from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM with a Fireman Service to follow at MacFadden Funeral Home, 325 Hardwick Street, Belvidere, NJ. Interment will be in Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, NJ.