"Myron, A little late, a voice from the past. Your Mom was a Classy Lady. Drop me a line if you get a chance. I still remember the times we spent at your house, and down in the basement with your Dad's gun collection. Dick Rehbehn"
In loving memory of
Esther Naomi Hetzler
November 5, 1917 - November 22, 2004
ESTHER HETZLER MUSCATINE, Iowa - Esther Naomi Hetzler, 87, of Muscatine, died Monday, November 22, 2004, at Lutheran Homes. Funeral Service will be 11:30 a.m. on Friday, November 26, 2004, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, 1931 Houser Street. Reverend William Griggs will officiate the service. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, November 26, 2004, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church. Esther was born on November 5, 1917, in Bloomington Township, the daughter of Louis A. and Sophia M. Bohling Thieker. She married W. Keith Hetzler on June 27, 1937, in Muscatine. He preceded her in death in 1995. She was a homemaker but also worked part-time as bookkeeper for Hetzler Dairy and then later at Hetzler's Sportsman's Haven after her children were raised. She was a lifelong member of the Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church. She enjoyed sewing, crafts, gardening, genealogy, reading, music and spending time with her grandchildren. Survivors include one son, Myron Hetzler and wife, Evelyn, of Muscatine; two daughters, Nancy Stigers of Grayslake, Illinois, and Karen Christiansen and husband, Gary, of Muscatine; five grandchildren, Mark Stigers, Terri Slater, Stacy Cotey, Bryce Christiansen, and Cory Christiansen; six great-grandchildren, and one sister, Hilda S. Grossklaus of Clinton. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, Edward Thieker, one sister, Celia Whitely, and two brothers and one sister in infancy.
Tributes
"It is with great sorrow that I read of your mothers death. My thoughts and prayers are with your family."
"Our love and prayers are with you in the loss of your mother."
"I was so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. I have only the fondest memories of her, and know she will be terribly missed by you all. Take comfort in the sweetness and kindness with which others remember her. God bless."
"I just wanted to tell the family that Mrs. Hetzler made alot of lives better. She always made me feel special when I came into the dairy as a kid in the 60s-70s. At her age far fewer friends are around to personally ulogize her, but I hope there is some solace that even far younger folks, such as myself, remember, benefited from her kindness and mourn her passing. P.S. Thanks Mrs. Hetzler! I look forward to visiting with you when its my time! Scott A. Hahn"
"Due to the holiday, I will be out of town on Friday, but I want to thank you for sharing Esther with us here at Lutheran Homes. The sweetness and cheer she conveyed through her smile always put a smile on my heart and cheered me. May God comfort you in your grief. Know that Esther was much loved and will be missed here at Lutheran Homes."
"Evelyn, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband with the loss of his mother. May God be with you and give you strength."