Bridgewater, NJ – Hartwig Hans Held, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Somerset. Born in Newark to the late Willy and Katherina (Leuf) Held, he was a lifelong resident of Irvington until 2021, when he moved into an assisted living in Bridgewater where he found a new home and new friends.

Hans was a proud veteran who served our country in the 24th Military Intelligence Division in the United States Army, being honorably discharged in 1968.  Throughout Hans’ life, he worked at Elastic Stop Nut Corp. and was part owner of B.H. & H. Reloading and Gunsmithing.  He was also a senior civil draftsman-technician for Casey & Keller.

Hans belonged to the Confederate Air Force and the National Rifle Association.  He could often be found at the shooting range and loved riding his motorcycle. Hans enjoyed building model airplanes, whittling wood figures, and listening to music from the 30s and 40s. He was also known to always go out of his way to help his neighbors or anyone in need. One of Hans’ favorite places was Charlie Browns in Millburn, where he had his own stool!

Predeceased by his brother Bernard Held, Hans is survived by his sister, Eleanore Lukacs and her husband Istvan (Steve), two nieces; Patricia Cox and her husband Bradley, and Katherine Anthony and her husband Kenneth. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Adelina Held, his nephew, Gerhard Sanchez and his wife Alison, four grandnieces; Kaitlyn and Emily Anthony and Claire and Annie Sanchez, and his grandnephew Thomas Sanchez.

Cremation services were held privately, with burial to follow at Hollywood Cemetery in Union at a later date.