North Thetford, VT- Oskar Alfred Gnaedinger, 91, died peacefully on January 3, 2023 at his home in North Thetford, VT. He was surrounded by his loved ones.

Oskar was born on November 15, 1931 on his grandparents' farm in Buchthalen, in the canton of Schaffhausen, in Swizerland. His father was Alfred Gnädinger and his mother was Rosa Gnädinger-Peter. He grew up in the Depression and during World War II, which were very difficult years in Switzerland. Starting in 1939, northern Switzerland was at danger from invasion by Germany, like the rest of Europe.

When necessary, Oskar cared for his four younger siblings, even while he was only a child himself. In school, Oskar excelled at math, German, and writing. In the 6 ^th grade, he won a nationwide writing contest, and he greatly enjoyed the prize – a ride on a DC-3 airplane! His father was a mason, and Oskar helped his father with building projects and also worked on the family farm.

When he was older, Oskar lived and worked in French-speaking Switzerland long enough to learn French. He went through basic training in the Swiss Army and became a communications specialist. He worked for 9 years for the Swiss National Railroads as a station master at many different locations.

His love of travel led Oskar in 1957 on a trip to the United States, and Alice Brannan was the American Youth Hostel leader for his tour group. Oskar and Alice stayed in touch as friends, and in 1960 Oskar moved to Ohio to study English and began working for the American Automobile Association in Cleveland. At the time, he lived with his future mother-in-law, Roxanna Brannan. Oskar and Alice married in 1961 in Hudson, Ohio.

Oskar began work with Swissair in 1962 in New York, where he worked in sales. The young couple found a small rental home in Westchester County. Oskar commuted every day to work in Manhattan by train, and his children Ellen and Charles were born in 1963 and 1965, respectively. Swissair promoted and transferred Oskar several times, which took the family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; and finally to Madison, Wisconsin.

In 1990, Oskar retired from Swiss-air, and he and Alice moved to Vermont to be close to Ellen's family. From his home office in North Thetford, Oskar continued to work in the group travel business until 2016, when he retired for good. He made many lifelong friends through his work, especially by organizing study tours and mission trips for schools, colleges and universities; trips to the Holy Land for churches and religious groups; and specialty trips for groups such as woodcarvers, skiers, and many others.

The family enjoyed many memorable outdoor trips, especially camping and canoeing in northern Minnesota and hiking and skiing in Switzerland. Oskar enjoyed fishing, especially with Charles and Steven, and he went cross-country skiing many times with Steven. He loved working in his vegetable garden in summer.

Oskar always kept close ties with his 4 siblings who stayed in Switzerland – Walter, Rosmarie, Gertrud, and Martin and their families. Oskar and his family visited their Swiss relatives regularly. Oskar was always polite, tolerant, kind, and non-judgmental. Like his mother, he held a deep Christian faith that guided how he lived, made him intolerant of war, and directed his generous support of humanitarian organizations.

Oskar is predeceased by his wife, Alice; an elder half-brother, Werner Pfütze; and a nephew, Martin Gnädinger, Junior. He's survived by his daughter, Ellen; his son, Charles; his son-in-law Doug Lufkin; his grandson Steven Lufkin; and Steven's fiancée, Maddie Harper. Oskar is also survived by all four of his siblings, 12 nieces and nephews, and many other relatives in Switzerland – including a great-great-nephew, also named Oskar!

The family is planning a funeral on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 12 Noon at the United Church of Thetford in North Thetford, VT. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Vermont Food Bank or Doctors Without Borders.