Harold Guetzlaff

KERRVILLE Harold Edward Guetzlaff, 92, of Kerrville TX, passed away from this life on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at a local care facility. Harold was born on a farm outside of Lawler, Chickasaw County, IA on October 8, 1920, the fourth child of Reinhold J. and Margaret Bottin.

Harold lived, was educated, and worked in and about the northeastern part of Iowa primarily in or near Waterloo for 72 years. He also lived in the northern part of California with his young family for three years in the early 50s, where he worked for Bechtel Corp. in San Francisco, CA in their Steam Power Plant Piping design division.

Harold married, Virginia E. Ball, in Waterloo, IA on September 11, 1941 and after 52 years, the marriage ended with her passing on March 29, 1994. After her death, he dicided to spend one more year in the south, deciding on Kerrville, TX, because of a happy previous experience there. He relocated form Parkersburg, IA to Kerrville because, not long after he arrived in Texas, he met a native Texas widow, Erna Luckmeyer, whom, because having the same faith and by mutual consent, he decided to marry and spend the rest of his life in Texas. He became a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church where he was also accepted as an Elder, and for some time was the Congregational Chairman.

Harold became an employee of John Deere Tractor works following his graduation from West Waterloo High School in 1938. He began as a mechanical engineering draftsman tracer and because of his application of communication and supervisory skills, eventually was promoted to chief draftsman for New Product Design. After over 40 years of employment, he retired as a senior designer, being involved with company, industry, national, and international technical drawing standards. During his professional life he was fortunate enough to have traveled to or thru 15 different foreign countriessome more than once. He was member of the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE for over 25 years until his retirement from active engineering work. He retired from the John Deer Product Engineering Center at Waterloo, IA on April 30, 1982.

Harolds employment with John Deere was interrupted in 1943 by being drafted into the military, leaving his wife and newly born daughter behind, where he was assigned to the Army Air Force, spending a good share of his active duty located at Chatham Air Base at Savannah, GA as part of 319th Light Bombardment Group which saw foreign duty in the 5th Air Force in Okinawa until the end of WWII. Occupational duty followed in Japan with an assignment to the 375th Troop Carrier Group of the 7th Air Force located at Tachikawa, Japan where he was placed in charge of the Squad PX until Christmas Day of 1945 when he returned to the States where he was discharged from active duty, in California, early in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Iowa with his wife and daughter where he continued his job with Deere Co. in Waterloo, IA. He was a life member of VFW and the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents wives, Virgina and Erna two sisters and two brothers.

Those who left to honor and cherish his memory, are his biological children, Pamela Sue Hileman and husband Richard of Cedar Falls, IA, Ellen Marie Hanna and husband John of New Burn, NC and Jon Edward Guetzlaff and wife Lou Ann of Janesville, IA six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Cheryl Lynn Bauer and husband Ray of Austin, TX, Karin Sue Sellers and husband JD of Buda, TX, Margie Ann Hall and husband Bob of Comfort, TX, and David Allen Luckemyer and wife Paula of New Braunfels, TX nine stepgrandchildren and two stepgreat grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 204 Spence St. Kerrville, TX on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Josh Sullivan Officiating.

Inurnment will follow at a later date at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Kerrville TX.

In lieu of floral tributes, it is desired that memorials be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Kerrville, TX.

The family invites you to leave a message of memory at www.kervillefuneralhometx.com by selecting Obituaries. Select Sign Guest Book at the top of the individual memorial.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professional at Kerrville Funeral Home 8308955111

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