STAMFORD, Vt. — Werner Netel Aase, 71, of Stamford, Vt., died on Friday, January 4, 2019, at his home.

He was born in Isdalstø, Norway, on July 17, 1947, a son of Nils Rasmussen and Alma M. (Johnsen) Aase. He immigrated to the United States with his family in November of 1953. Werner went on to receive his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Rutgers College, his master's degree in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire, and his Secondary Teachers Certificate from Massachusetts in biology, chemistry and English.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War as an Army Medical Corpsman. His duties included screening, treating, and prescribing medication for soldiers in Troop Medical Clinics at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.

In his younger years, Werner worked as a medical assistant in the Department of Gastroenterology at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass. He later worked as a substitute teacher for high school English and science in Northwestern Massachusetts and Southern Vermont, including the Stamford School, before joining the chemistry department at Hoosac Valley High School in Adams, Mass., where he taught from 1979 until his retirement in 2002.

Werner had many special interests, including snowshoeing, boating, hiking and photography, and was very proud to have owned and operated his own 32-foot tugboat in the fjords of Norway from 1975-1976. He was a member of Amnesty International, the ACLU, ASPCA, and the American Legion.

Survivors include his three brothers, Anders Aase of Flanders, N.J., Olaf Aase of Stamford, Vt., and Rein Aase of Norway; two sisters, Louise Taule of North Carolina and Anna Selle of Norway; six nieces; 11 nephews; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Nils Aase; and his sister, Signy Bickar.

Funeral notice: Burial at Millard Cemetary will be private and held on April 13, 2019, at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial at noon, to celebrate Werner’s life, at the Aase homestead.