Obituary for CHARLES KENNETH HARTZER
Charles Kenneth Hartzer, 91, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at Lutheran Hospital.
Kenneth was born March 24, 1922 in Marengo, Iowa to Clifford and Freda (Rodgers) Hartzer and soon moved to the Des Moines area where he spent the remainder of his life. Following graduation from North High School, Kenneth enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as a radio operator in the Signal Corps in New Guinea and the Philippines, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Des Moines in 1946 and met his future wife, Gertrude Newton at church. They soon married and raised a family of four children.
Kenneth worked at various jobs in Des Moines and was owner of Hartzer Sodding Company. During his retirement years, he enjoyed working at Tait’s Foods where he could meet customers and renew friendships. He was a charter member of the First Church of the Open Bible and attended there nearly his whole life. He enjoyed singing in the choir, being with people, the St. Louis Cardinals, taking family vacations, and eating his wife’s baked goods.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Gertrude; parents, Clifford and Freda Hartzer; and his siblings, Roger Hartzer, Violet Murray, and Darlene Haag. He is survived by his children, Michael and his wife Cheryl of Arlington, TX, Tim of Des Moines, Ron and his wife Cheryl of Panama City, FL, and Linda Mauk and her husband Rick of Clive; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, September 16, 2013 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 17 at First Church of the Open Bible, 2200 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines, followed by burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Kenneth was born March 24, 1922 in Marengo, Iowa to Clifford and Freda (Rodgers) Hartzer and soon moved to the Des Moines area where he spent the remainder of his life. Following graduation from North High School, Kenneth enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as a radio operator in the Signal Corps in New Guinea and the Philippines, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Des Moines in 1946 and met his future wife, Gertrude Newton at church. They soon married and raised a family of four children.
Kenneth worked at various jobs in Des Moines and was owner of Hartzer Sodding Company. During his retirement years, he enjoyed working at Tait’s Foods where he could meet customers and renew friendships. He was a charter member of the First Church of the Open Bible and attended there nearly his whole life. He enjoyed singing in the choir, being with people, the St. Louis Cardinals, taking family vacations, and eating his wife’s baked goods.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Gertrude; parents, Clifford and Freda Hartzer; and his siblings, Roger Hartzer, Violet Murray, and Darlene Haag. He is survived by his children, Michael and his wife Cheryl of Arlington, TX, Tim of Des Moines, Ron and his wife Cheryl of Panama City, FL, and Linda Mauk and her husband Rick of Clive; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, September 16, 2013 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 17 at First Church of the Open Bible, 2200 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines, followed by burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.