Posts Tagged ‘Harry Hertzler’

Celebrating 100 Years

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“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.

H. P and Anna Hertzler Reunion-2015

On Saturday, June 13, 2015, descendants of Henry Peter and Anna Hertzler gathered at Shady Oak in Harrisonburg for a family reunion.

Here are a few family facts:

  • They had 10 children; Arthur, Milford, Menno (died as a youth in a boating accident), Lois (Hostetter), Ruth (Shank), Harry, Oliver, Osie (Ziegler), Edith (Wenger), and Dora (Brunk).
  • There are 44 cousins with Bob Hertzler (81) the oldest.
  • The closest we could figure, there are now 634 living descendants including spouses with approximately 60 (10%) in attendance. They came from Arizona, Florida, Chicago, Delaware, Pennsylvania and points in between!
  • Harry (98) and Osie (96) are the only living children and they were both there!  We weren’t sure on either one until the last minute.

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This was a touching moment as siblings, Harry and Osie, greeted each other. It has been quite a few years since they have been together and it was the highlight of the reunion.

With a huge grin he took his hat off and got down on his knees in front of her.

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They were obviously both really happy.

They sat and held hands-it was so precious. It made you wonder what was going through their minds.

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Each family unit was represented and had their picture taken with Harry and Osie.

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Arthur and Edna Hertzler family

(Kim, Rachel, Caleb Snyder, Bobby Hertzler, Bob & Marie Hertzler)

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Milford and Ada Hertzler Family

(David Gerber, Harrison Elmore, Christina Harman, Keith Harman, Jan Gerber, Catherine (Presley) Elmore, Diann (Presley) Harman and Annalena Elmore)

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Lois and Virgil Hostetter Family

(L-R:  Nancy & Bob Hostetter, Margie Swartzentruber)

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Ruth and Byard Shank Family

L-R: David & Lois Shank, Daniel & Margaret Lehman, Brandon & Heather Byler, John & Patricia Martin, Ray & Merietta Shank)

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Harry & Edna Hertzler Family

(L-R with wives in front of men) Michael & Kay Hertzler, J.P. & Alma Hertzler, Joe & Norma Hertzler, David & Ilva Hertzler)

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Oliver and Anna Mae Hertzler Family

(Back row L-R: Jill & Obe Hostetter, Gene & Pat Hertzler

(2nd row:  Ryan & Karla Hostetter)

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Osie and Ralph Ziegler Family

(Audrey Ziegler)

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Edith and John Wenger Family

L-R: Sidney Wenger, Howard Wenger, Elba & Harold Wenger, Louise and Linford Sommers

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Dora and Dan Brunk Family

(Kenny Brunk and Dale & Kathy Stoltfus)

Other pictures

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Newlyweds, Harold & Elba Wenger, married April 10, 2015 and hailing all the way from Arizona.

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Linford Sommers and Ray Shank

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Alma, Norma and Ilva Hertzler

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David and Lois Shank

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Gene Hertzler and Keith Harman

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Osie and Bob Hertzler

 

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Marie Hertzler and son, Bobby Hertzler

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Howard and Sidney Wenger

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Obe and Ryan Hostetter

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J.P. Hertzler and Patricia Martin

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Marie Hertzler and Pat Hertzler (Photo by David Hertzler)

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Father and son; Harry and David Hertzler

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Playing games – Christina Harman and Analena Elmore

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Kim, Caleb and Rachel Snyder

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 Karl Shenk  and Ray Shank

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Judy Humphrey and Catherine Elmore

IMG_8332Lois Shank and Merietta Shank

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Kenny Brunk

IMG_8334Kathy Stoltfus and Marie Hertzler

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David Gerber and Keith Harman

IMG_8338Gene Hertzler and John Paul Hertzler

IMG_8335Harry Hertzler and David Shank

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Howard Wenger, Sidney Wenger and Michael Hertzler (Photo by David Hertzler)

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Harold Wenger introducing his new bride, Elba, to Osie. In the background Margie Swartzentruber and Audrey Ziegler.

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Sister-in-laws: Norma, Ilva, Alma and Kay Hertzler

IMG_8341This amazing man who is 98 years old is agile, stands tall and steady, and still walks with a spring in his step.

He is a man of God who, in his younger days, was a preacher and teacher.

IMG_8294Osie, a twin to Oliver, is loved by everyone who knows her.  Her husband, Ralph Ziegler, was a plumber and preacher.

They were instrumental in helping to start the Mennonite Church in Richmond, Virginia and later pastored at Woodland Mennonite.

Osie wrote poetry and those attending the reunion were rewarded with a treasured book of her poems, “Homespun Verse: A Mother’s Medley”.

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Blessing on the meal by Uncle Harry. Thanks Catherine Presley for sharing this video.

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Note to family: If I have anyone mislabeled or labeled with a ? please let me know so I can make corrections.  There were a few I just didn’t know!  Thanks, Pat

pathertzler@gmail.com

 

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