Samuel H. Ganshaw

Samuel H. Ganshaw, age 78, passed away peacefully in his home in Mifflinville at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 with his wife and daughter, Anne Williams at his side.

Son of the late Ernest and Helen (Britton) Ganshaw, Sam was born June 4, 1935 in Wilson, New York, where he developed a broad knowledge of agriculture and deep love of nature and the outdoors on the family fruit and vegetable farm. As a youth he was an FFA president and member; and graduated from Wilson High School, Wilson, New York, where he played football and went on to graduate from Cornell University. At age 20 he was selected to represent Niagara County as a Community Ambassador to Basel, Switzerland. While there he learned to sail on Lake Maggiore, sparking a lifelong love of sailing.

Fittingly, his career started with the US Department of Agriculture for Niagara County, and included various managerial positions with Agway. A transfer to Agway’s Potato Division prompted a move to Mattituck on Long Island where he founded Peconic Produce, the company he successfully operated for many years before retiring. In 1983, Sam was awarded a US Patent for his invention of a Surf Shirt.

Sam gave generously of his time and leadership in an array of organizations, currently serving as Senior Warden of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Benton. He was a member of Chimney Stack Rod and Gun Club, Columbia County Republican Committee, member and past chairman of the Youth Aid Panel for Columbia County Juvenile Probation Services and past chairman of Berwick Area Joint Sewer Authority; served as past president of Berwick and Springville, New York Rotary Clubs with which he was recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award given to outstanding Rotarians internationally; former supervisor for Mifflin Township; former Commodore and member of the Wilson Yacht Club on Lake Ontario; and a member of the Masonic Order in Cazenovia, New York.

Sam lived his life with incredible energy and was active doing yard work and attending two family reunions just days before he died, which were the things he loved to do most.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Ganshaw.

Surviving is his wife, the former Ann Sutliff, with whom he celebrated 38 years of marriage on March 29, 2013; five children: Mark Ganshaw, Syracuse, NY; Kay, wife of Elliott Smith, Des Moines, IA; Anne, wife of Michael Williams, Mendham, NJ; Peter Wilson, wife Corinna, Camp Hill and Jennifer, wife of Tom Maher, Stratham, NH; eight grandchildren: Freddy and Sarah Smith, Chloe and Emma Williams, George and Elizabeth Wilson, Mackenzie and Kathryn Maher; brother, Ernest Ganshaw, Wilson, NY; and brother-in-law, J. Brooks Sutliff, Hummelstown.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10 in Dean W. Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Benton with Rev. Andrew M. France, Archdeacon Emeritus, officiating. Interment in Benton Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1-2 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Gabriel’s Church, PO Box 347, Benton, PA 17814 or to the American Cancer Society, Columbia County Unit, 1420 N. Susquehanna Trail, Selinsgrove, PA 17870.