John George Whinnem

John George Whinnem, age 92, of Westport, MA, died peacefully at home on December 27, 2011. George was born on January 17, 1919, in Gateshead, England. He was the son of John George Whinnem Sr. and Martha (Glass) Whinnem, who died when George was three years old. An only child, George and his father immigrated to the United States in 1929, where he grew up among many aunts, uncles and cousins in the area of Hartford, Connecticut. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1941. George graduated from The Vesper George School of Art in Boston. His career was in commercial art; he became a successful art director in several Boston advertising agencies. In May of 1943, he married Helen (Krofton) Whinnem, who predeceased him in 1994. They raised their family in Walpole, MA and then retired to Cape Cod in 1976. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May of 1993. George set a remarkable example of devotion to his wife by caring for her at home for six years following her severe stroke. In 2009, he moved to Westport, MA, to the home of his daughter and son-in-law. George is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Ruth Whinnem of Newington, Ct, and by his daughter and son-in-law, Jane and William Wisneski of Westport, MA. He will be lovingly remembered by his four grandchildren, Dana Wisneski Stewart, Craig Wisneski, Zac Whinnem and Brooke Whinnem, and also by his five great-grandchildren, Ethan and Blake Stewart, Hollis and Max Hunt and Callan Wisneski. George's family would like to thank all the friends both past and present who shared his journey through life. Whenever he was asked his preference, his reply of "Do whatever is easiest for you." is a testament to his approach to life and the reason why he was so immediately liked by all he met. In lieu of flowers and in memory of George's love of animals, please make a donation to the MSPCA Angell, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 or at www.mspca.org. Funeral services will be held at the James H. Delaney Funeral Home at 48 Common Street, Walpole, MA, on Friday, January 6, 2012, from 9:30-11:30, followed by internment in St. Francis Cemetery.