“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Uncle Harry. Happy 100th birthday to you!”
One hundred years old! Uncle Harry’s self-proclaimed goal has been to celebrate his 100th birthday. And he did it!!! Saturday family and friends gathered to celebrate this amazing man who outlived all his eight siblings. Ironically, one month ago, we laid to rest his younger sister, Osie, who was 98.
Uncle Harry is living out his days at a retirement center in Pennsylvania. He is hard of hearing, suffers from memory loss and walks with a cane, but otherwise is relatively healthy. When you talk to him, he always mentions the Lord; sometimes with a verse, sometimes with a blessing or admonition.
Later in the afternoon, I watched him get up from his chair and quietly stride unnoticed out the door of the reception room and down the hall towards his room. Apparently he had enough of being the celebrity of the day and left his party for quieter quarters. He was later found sitting in the lounge entertaining other home residents with stories about his day and how popular he was with all the picture taking.
While his brothers pursued farming, Harry was the studious, academic child in the family. For a while he tried dairying in Amelia County, but his true love was books, teaching and preaching. His story, which he wrote himself, is posted below.
“My Story” by Harry Hertzler
(Shared & edited by David Hertzler)
Harry has lived a good, full life. His life has exemplified a godly man of faith who has sought to be faithful to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in every aspect of his life. And now he says, “I am starting on my next 100 years!”
When “antique” is used as an adjective it means: having a high value because of considerable age. Antique Harry. I think the adjective fits and the Hertzlers have their own antique-a gem of precious value!
Uncle Harry with 7 of his children. His first wife, Edna, and daughter Mary June are deceased.
Back: Daniel (Danny, Michael, Henry, John Paul (JP) and Joe.
Front: David, Harry and Lois (Danner).
Spouses are added to this picture.
Back row: Marvin Rohrer (Mary June’s husband), Ruth & Danny, Michael & Kay, John Paul (JP’s spouse, Alma, passed away last year), Gwen & Henry, Philip Danner (Lois’s spouse) and Joe.
Front Row: Jean Rohrer (Marvin’s spouse), Ilva & David, Harry, Lois Ann, and Norma (Joe’s spouse)
Grandchildren who were present were added to this picture along with their parent’s name. I am not relabeling the siblings.
Back row: Three on left: David Hertzler (Daniel), April Garthwaite (David), Ed Hertzler (Dave) and two on right: Lucy Miller (Joe) and Veronica Hochstetler (Joe).
Front row: Yolanda Brubaker (JP), Joanna Yoder (Mike), Lucinda Hostetter (JP), Ernie Danner (Lois Ann), Timothy Danner (Lois Ann), Raphael Hertzler (Henry), Karl Hertzler (Joe), Wendall (Lois Ann) and kneeling in the front, Jeremy Hertzler (Henry).
Other Pictures From the Day
Four generations of Hertzlers
Harry with son, Joe, Grandson Karl, and two great-grandsons, Levi and Kurt
Uncle Harry and Gene Hertzler
John Paul (JP) Hertzler
Dave Hertzler, Gordie Ziegler, Kathy (Brunk) Stoltzfus and Danny Hertzler
Michael Hertzler
Margaret (Shank) & Daniel Lehman
Gordie and Bertie Ziegler
Lois Ann (Hertzler) and Philip Danner
Kay Hertzler, Jean Rohrer and Ruth Hertzler
Janice (Hertzler) Gerber and Bertie Ziegler
Ilva Hertzler loving on two of her granddaughters
Ilva Hertzler with two more grandchildren
Taylor & Brianna Hostetter (JP-Lucinda) and Annika Miller (Joe-Lucy)
Ed Hertzler and his dad, Dave Hertzler
Dale & Kathy Stoltzfus and Gene Hertzler
Ilva and Dave Hertzler
JP, Gwen & Henry Hertzler
Joe & Norma Hertzler with children Lucy (Hertzler) Miller and Karl.
A few pictures from the history table…
Harry and Edna’s wedding picture -1941
Harry on his wedding day
Harry and Edna….later in life
Harry Hertzler Family-1948
Harry Hertzler Family 1961
Harry Hertzler family with his parents (Henry & Anna Hertzler) -1968
50th wedding anniversary of Harry’s parents, Henry & Anna Hertzler
The entire clan of Hertzlers – 1956
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Pictures taken by Ed Hertzler
Ed Hertzler (Dave) and Harry
Lori Jo Hertzler, Ed’s spouse.
First Cousins
Lucinda Hostetter (JP), Yolanda Brubaker (JP), Joanna (Mike), April (David), Veronica Hochstetler (Joe) and Lucy Miller (Joe).
Yolanda Brubaker (JP), Ed Hertzler (Dave) and Veronica Hochstetler (Joe)
Michelle Hertzler (Spouse of Joe’s son Karl)
Pictures taken by Ilva Hertzler
Joe, Harry and J.P. Hertzler
Michael Hertzler and Gordie Ziegler
Philip Danner, Harry Hertzler, Janice Gerber and Henry Hertzler
Note: If anyone has pictures of people I don’t have posted I would love for you to send them to me at pathertzler@gmail.com. If you know the names where I have ? marks, I would love your help.
