Werner Wilhelm Kabitzke

Werner Wilhelm Kabitzke of Milford died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning, June 28, 2015, at home. He was 88.

Son of the late Wilhelm and Elisabeth (Weihe) Kabitzke, he was born on June 13, 1927, in Germany.

He was a horticulturist/grower and worked for 25 years in Germany as an environmentally responsible landscaper returning strip-mined areas to their natural beauty.

He immigrated to the United States in 1971 and started a greenhouse nursery in southern Maine. He grew and supplied plants, wholesale and retail, for all of New England, until his retirement in 1992. He devoted the remainder of his life to growing orchids, winning many best-of-show prizes at exhibitions in New York City and throughout New England.

He was a past-member of the Mid-Hudson Orchid Society and belonged to three German-American clubs.

He was married to Hildegard (Wippich) for 50 years, until her death in 1998.

Survivors include his daughters, Kathrin DeSmedt and her husband, Bill, of Milford, and Susanne Wells and her husband, Hal, of Hampden, Maine; sons, Werner Albert Kabitzke (with wife Pam) and Stefan Kabitzke (with girlfriend Robin Roberge), both of Newfield ME. Werner also had seven grandchildren Jeffrey, Daniel, Adrian, Lucas, Benjamin, Oliver, and Mallory; and six great-grandchildren, Molly, Hanna, Dominick, Fiona, Tristan, and Everett.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County, 321 Fifth St., Milford PA 18337.

Arrangements are by Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford.