Harry John Vasbinder

Harry John Vasbinder was born on December 12, 1946. He passed away on March 10, 2024.

He was born in Vineland, New Jersey to Arthur Carl Vasbinder and Evelyn Theresa Abbott Vasbinder. He had four siblings Arthur, Buddy, Joey and Bernice.

Growing up he worked on a pickle farm and also helped take care of the animals there. When he was 14 he left home and got a job at a gas station pumping gas and cleaning cars. He lived in a little hotel where he had to put a dime in the clock to make it run for 24 hours.

He joined the military in 1968 and served as a Marine in Vietnam for two years. He didn’t like to talk about his time in Vietnam, but he served his country valiantly.

He met Marlena Weekes in Hawaii while he was in the military. They were married for 23 years. In 1974, they had one beautiful daughter named Lynnette. She had her dad wrapped around her little finger from day one. She was definitely the apple of her father’s eye. He devoted his time to loving and caring for Lynette. He truly exemplified what it means to be real man and care for your children.

John was a wonderful father to his daughter Lynnette. When Lynette was seven, she fondly remembers going on a Father-Daughter date to the YMCA Indian Princesses weekend retreat. He pushed her sled down a steep hill, only to realize that the sled Lynette was riding in was out of control, he ran after her and saved her just before she fell into the cold creek. He was the kind of father who dressed up to go to Junior Prom and danced the night away with Lynnette, ensuring she had a wonderful experience. At Lynnette’s high school graduation, he was so proud of his daughter that he stood for the entire ceremony on the balcony overlooking the graduation stage and recorded the entire service. In 2001, when Lynnette’s kidney was failing, John lovingly stepped forward and became a kidney donor for her. That kidney has lasted for almost 22 years.

John worked with special needs individuals in group homes for the past 25 years. He didn’t know what the word retirement meant.

John leaves behind his daughter Lynnette, his best friend Marlena W. Johnson, and all of his siblings who live in Florida: his brothers Artie, Buddy, Joey and sister Bernice. He also leaves behind a sister and brother-in-law, Ilene and Jerry Byington. Also dear friends who were like brothers: Cody Walker and KC Field. He will be greatly missed.

No funeral services will be held, but a Celebration of Life will be held later this summer (2024).