Pieter R. Wiederhold

Wiederhold, Pieter R, 88, most recently of Linden Ponds in Hingham MA but having spent considerable time formerly living in Cumming GA as well as Plymouth, Lincoln and Lexington MA, passed away of natural causes on March 9, 2016. 

Born in Java Indonesia on January 24, 1928 he was the son of Dutch parents, Frederick and Isabelle Wiederhold.  He grew up in what was then the Netherlands Indies during the pre-war colonial period.  He had several close brushes with death during World War II when living under Japanese occupation, having been imprisoned in three concentration camps in Java. Upon returning to the Netherlands after the war, he completed high school and then earned a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delft.  He immigrated to the United States in 1953 to pursue the “American Dream”, ultimately deciding to become an entrepreneur by founding his own company, General Eastern, in 1973.  He is the author of two books –  “Water Vapor Measurement” summarizing his work of over 20 years and “The Soul Conquers”, his life story.  He traveled widely for business and pleasure, enjoyed international affairs, opera and spending time with his family. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Erin (Nicholson) Wiederhold; his three sons and their spouses, Ed Wiederhold and Jennifer of Tewksbury MA, Robert Wiederhold and Melinda of Los Gatos CA, and Conrad Wiederhold and Marianne of Melvin Village NH. He was also grandfather to Jenna, Emily, Michael, Krista, Julie, Rick and Allison. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 10:00 AM at the Performing Arts Center at Linden Ponds, 203 Linden Ponds Way in Hingham MA. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the “15 August 1945 Remembrance Foundation” which honors Dutch victims of the Second World War in Asia (http://www.indieherdenking.nl/en/history-monument).  Donations should be sent to Stichting Herdenking 15 Augustus 1945, Landgoed Bronbeek, Velperweg 147, 6824 MB Arnhem, Netherlands.