Robert B. Hetzler, 79, of Airport Rd., Emlenton, passed away at Noon, Monday, December 5, 2016 at the Caring Place in Franklin.
Robert was born in Squaw Valley, Scrubgrass Twp., Venango County, on February 28, 1937. He was the son of the late Clarence H. and Genevieve M. Hart Hetzler.
Mr. Hetzler was a 1955 graduate of Emlenton High School and a 1960 graduate of Grove City College with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Bob attended various seminars for technical and management courses between 1963 and 1980. He also attended Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations studying Management Review of Supervisory Development.
Mr. Hetzler was a respected mechanical and design engineer and as an engineering manager, accomplished the design and development of a complete line of Top Drive and Rotary Table Drive drilling rigs for the mining, construction, water well and oil and gas markets. He held patents and traveled worldwide extensively as a design engineer and research and development expert. As a sales manager Mr. Hetzer was responsible for the opening of eight new distributors in the United States. Bob had been employed by Chicago Pneumatic for twenty-five years, served as vice-president of REICHdrill Inc. for more than a decade, and retired fifteen years ago from Douglas Drill Service in Phillipsburg.
Bob was a well known family farmer in the area and operated his family farm on Airport Road in Richland Twp. for nearly half a century.
He was of the Methodist faith and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Mr. Hetzler was married at the Salem Reformed United Church of Christ in Lamartine on March 14, 1938 to the former Yvonne M. “Bonnie” Kurtz. She survives. Also surviving are five children, Robert C. Hetzler of Emlenton, Kimberly D. Hetzler of Emlenton, Michael D. Hetzler and his wife, Kristle, of Emlenton, Cheryl G. Fye and her husband, Randy, of Strattanville, and Rita K. Reed and her husband, Jeffrey, of Strattanville; six grandchildren, Kyle G. Fye of Strattanville, Erika Y. Hetzler of Parker, Aubrey E. Hetzler of Emlenton, Cole T. Hardick of Shippenville, Jacqueline M. Hetzler of Emlenton, and Madyson B. Hetzler of Emlenton; 2 great grandchildren, Jayme C. and Ariya M. Rupp of Parker; a brother, Glenn B. Hetzler and his wife, Irene, of Polk; a sister, Katherine Campbell and her husband, Jerold, of Titusville; a sister-in-law, Delores Hetzler of Emlenton, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by two brothers, John Hetzler and an infant brother, and a sister, Judy M. Borland.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Thursday. A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Gary Brown, pastor of New Zion E.C. Church, officiating. Interment will be in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp., Venango County. Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, One Children’s Hospital Drive, Central Plant, Floor 3, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224.
For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
