Berwick native Bob Wise is a soft spoken man who says he is thankful for the many blessings in his life. He readily expresses that he is most thankful for being able to spend more time with Joanne, his wife of 53 years, his three children and six grandchildren. Bob is a cancer survivor and he says, “I offer a thanksgiving every day for the physicians that cared for me.” “I am pleased and overjoyed that my cancer is in remission,” he says. “I appreciate the caring Geisinger physicians, Dr. Amy Law, Dr. Douglas Christie and their pleasant, smiling and cheerful staffs. They all remember my wife and me when we go there. They are a great group of people,” he adds. Bob says he will always appreciate the services of Drs. Law and Christie and is happy he and his wife could honor them by making a gift to Geisinger. “I hope my gift is used to provide other patients with the care and necessary equipment that will result in the same good outcome I had,” says Bob. “I’m here and able to be with my family and reminisce about my life because of them.” As the former president of Wise Potato Chip Company, Bob shares the interesting story about the start of the company that bears his family name. |  |
“My father had a fruit and vegetable business and he got stuck with some old potatoes he couldn’t sell,” he says with a chuckle. “He decided to cook a batch of potato chips on the kitchen stove and the rest, as they say, is history.” Bob is now retired, but he vividly remembers when he did every job in the potato chip factory prior to running the business. Joanne, an Army brat, met Bob while both were attending Dickinson College. For relaxation she enjoys doing needlepoint. After retirement and while recuperating from an illness, Bob picked it up and also started doing it. “I loved it,” he says with a smile. Soon he and his wife were the owners of a store selling needlepoint, knitting and framing supplies. Bob also created needlepoint designs and their home is a showcase of needlepoint and counted cross stitch pictures and rugs. “My wife does beautiful work,” he says proudly. Bob and Joanne are avid travelers and list Hong Kong, Europe, Athens, Israel, India and China among the many places they’ve visited. As members of the Wild Bunch, a motor home travel group, they visited every state in the country except Alaska and Hawaii. “We, however, always come back to Geisinger for our care,” Bob says. Dr. Harold Foss, the health system’s first chief executive, operated on his father in the 1950s. “We’ve been Geisinger patients ever since,” says Bob. “I’m so grateful for what they have done for me.” |
Geisinger Health System Foundation - Charitable organizations that solicit contributions are required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide the following statement: "A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement." |
