Henry "Hank" Harold Wertz, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Magalia, CA, on December 19, 2010, with his loving wife of 62 years, Helen, by his side. Hank was born on February 19, 1919 to Simon Peter Wertz and Mary Rowe in Drain, Oregon. He was the 3rd of 9 children.
At the age of 10, he went to live with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Alice Wertz in Chico, CA, after the unexpected death of his father. He attended Chico schools.
In February of 1941, Hank joined the Navy and following boot camp was assigned to the PBY Squadron stationed at Pearl Harbor. In 1943 he transferred to the newly christened Aircraft Carrier USS HORNET (CV-12). After leaving Pearl Harbor in 1944 for his combat debut as part of the famous Task Force 58, HORNET would never tie-up at a pier for the next 18 months. Hank would remain on the HORNET, proudly serving the country he loved, until he was honorably discharged in 1945.
After he was discharged, Hank returned to his home in Chico. In 1948 he met Helen Arbuckle and they were married on June 19th of that year in the old First Baptist Church on Salem Street. Together, Hank and Helen built their first home on Palmetto Ave., where they would welcome their two children, Warren in 1951 and Lavonne in 1954.
Hank and Helen moved the family to Santa Rosa, CA in 1954, where he would work at various jobs, eventually retiring from the American Door Company in 1982. After Helen retired from teaching in 1983, they embarked on a 13 year adventure traveling the country for the Good Sam Club. They eventually visited every state except Maine, including Alaska and Hawaii and Canada and Mexico.
After 39 years living in Santa Rosa, Hank and Helen moved to their present home in Magalia, CA, in 1993 to be closer to their families. Hank attended First Baptist Church in Chico. He was a member of the American Legion Paradise Post 259 and most proudly the USS Hornet Association, where he is an original plank owner. He was a man of honor and integrity, had a sense of humor that was infectious, and would do anything he could to help anyone that needed it.
Hank is survived by his wife, Helen; son and daughter-in-law, Warren and Anita Wertz of Stockton; daughter and son-in-law, Lavonne and Jeff Fogel of Magalia; his beloved grandchildren, Darrell Wertz and his wife, Stephanie of Virginia; Alissa Wertz of Stockton; Nathan Fogel and his wife, Sandra of Magalia; Kayla Fogel of San Diego; Shannon Fogel of Chico; Rebecca Fogel of Turlock; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Genie and Lexie Fogel. He is also survived by two brothers, Donald Wertz of Yerington, NV, Carl Wertz of Yountville; sister, Violet Traba of Santa Rosa, and many extended family members.
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91-year-old Henry Harold Wertz was interred, per the Glen Oaks Memorial Park Burial Records, in the plot noted on December 23, 2010.
At the age of 10, he went to live with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Alice Wertz in Chico, CA, after the unexpected death of his father. He attended Chico schools.
In February of 1941, Hank joined the Navy and following boot camp was assigned to the PBY Squadron stationed at Pearl Harbor. In 1943 he transferred to the newly christened Aircraft Carrier USS HORNET (CV-12). After leaving Pearl Harbor in 1944 for his combat debut as part of the famous Task Force 58, HORNET would never tie-up at a pier for the next 18 months. Hank would remain on the HORNET, proudly serving the country he loved, until he was honorably discharged in 1945.
After he was discharged, Hank returned to his home in Chico. In 1948 he met Helen Arbuckle and they were married on June 19th of that year in the old First Baptist Church on Salem Street. Together, Hank and Helen built their first home on Palmetto Ave., where they would welcome their two children, Warren in 1951 and Lavonne in 1954.
Hank and Helen moved the family to Santa Rosa, CA in 1954, where he would work at various jobs, eventually retiring from the American Door Company in 1982. After Helen retired from teaching in 1983, they embarked on a 13 year adventure traveling the country for the Good Sam Club. They eventually visited every state except Maine, including Alaska and Hawaii and Canada and Mexico.
After 39 years living in Santa Rosa, Hank and Helen moved to their present home in Magalia, CA, in 1993 to be closer to their families. Hank attended First Baptist Church in Chico. He was a member of the American Legion Paradise Post 259 and most proudly the USS Hornet Association, where he is an original plank owner. He was a man of honor and integrity, had a sense of humor that was infectious, and would do anything he could to help anyone that needed it.
Hank is survived by his wife, Helen; son and daughter-in-law, Warren and Anita Wertz of Stockton; daughter and son-in-law, Lavonne and Jeff Fogel of Magalia; his beloved grandchildren, Darrell Wertz and his wife, Stephanie of Virginia; Alissa Wertz of Stockton; Nathan Fogel and his wife, Sandra of Magalia; Kayla Fogel of San Diego; Shannon Fogel of Chico; Rebecca Fogel of Turlock; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Genie and Lexie Fogel. He is also survived by two brothers, Donald Wertz of Yerington, NV, Carl Wertz of Yountville; sister, Violet Traba of Santa Rosa, and many extended family members.
~ ~ ~
91-year-old Henry Harold Wertz was interred, per the Glen Oaks Memorial Park Burial Records, in the plot noted on December 23, 2010.
Henry "Hank" Harold Wertz, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Magalia, CA, on December 19, 2010, with his loving wife of 62 years, Helen, by his side. Hank was born on February 19, 1919 to Simon Peter Wertz and Mary Rowe in Drain, Oregon. He was the 3rd of 9 children.
At the age of 10, he went to live with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Alice Wertz in Chico, CA, after the unexpected death of his father. He attended Chico schools.
In February of 1941, Hank joined the Navy and following boot camp was assigned to the PBY Squadron stationed at Pearl Harbor. In 1943 he transferred to the newly christened Aircraft Carrier USS HORNET (CV-12). After leaving Pearl Harbor in 1944 for his combat debut as part of the famous Task Force 58, HORNET would never tie-up at a pier for the next 18 months. Hank would remain on the HORNET, proudly serving the country he loved, until he was honorably discharged in 1945.
After he was discharged, Hank returned to his home in Chico. In 1948 he met Helen Arbuckle and they were married on June 19th of that year in the old First Baptist Church on Salem Street. Together, Hank and Helen built their first home on Palmetto Ave., where they would welcome their two children, Warren in 1951 and Lavonne in 1954.
Hank and Helen moved the family to Santa Rosa, CA in 1954, where he would work at various jobs, eventually retiring from the American Door Company in 1982. After Helen retired from teaching in 1983, they embarked on a 13 year adventure traveling the country for the Good Sam Club. They eventually visited every state except Maine, including Alaska and Hawaii and Canada and Mexico.
After 39 years living in Santa Rosa, Hank and Helen moved to their present home in Magalia, CA, in 1993 to be closer to their families. Hank attended First Baptist Church in Chico. He was a member of the American Legion Paradise Post 259 and most proudly the USS Hornet Association, where he is an original plank owner. He was a man of honor and integrity, had a sense of humor that was infectious, and would do anything he could to help anyone that needed it.
Hank is survived by his wife, Helen; son and daughter-in-law, Warren and Anita Wertz of Stockton; daughter and son-in-law, Lavonne and Jeff Fogel of Magalia; his beloved grandchildren, Darrell Wertz and his wife, Stephanie of Virginia; Alissa Wertz of Stockton; Nathan Fogel and his wife, Sandra of Magalia; Kayla Fogel of San Diego; Shannon Fogel of Chico; Rebecca Fogel of Turlock; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Genie and Lexie Fogel. He is also survived by two brothers, Donald Wertz of Yerington, NV, Carl Wertz of Yountville; sister, Violet Traba of Santa Rosa, and many extended family members.
~ ~ ~
91-year-old Henry Harold Wertz was interred, per the Glen Oaks Memorial Park Burial Records, in the plot noted on December 23, 2010.
At the age of 10, he went to live with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Alice Wertz in Chico, CA, after the unexpected death of his father. He attended Chico schools.
In February of 1941, Hank joined the Navy and following boot camp was assigned to the PBY Squadron stationed at Pearl Harbor. In 1943 he transferred to the newly christened Aircraft Carrier USS HORNET (CV-12). After leaving Pearl Harbor in 1944 for his combat debut as part of the famous Task Force 58, HORNET would never tie-up at a pier for the next 18 months. Hank would remain on the HORNET, proudly serving the country he loved, until he was honorably discharged in 1945.
After he was discharged, Hank returned to his home in Chico. In 1948 he met Helen Arbuckle and they were married on June 19th of that year in the old First Baptist Church on Salem Street. Together, Hank and Helen built their first home on Palmetto Ave., where they would welcome their two children, Warren in 1951 and Lavonne in 1954.
Hank and Helen moved the family to Santa Rosa, CA in 1954, where he would work at various jobs, eventually retiring from the American Door Company in 1982. After Helen retired from teaching in 1983, they embarked on a 13 year adventure traveling the country for the Good Sam Club. They eventually visited every state except Maine, including Alaska and Hawaii and Canada and Mexico.
After 39 years living in Santa Rosa, Hank and Helen moved to their present home in Magalia, CA, in 1993 to be closer to their families. Hank attended First Baptist Church in Chico. He was a member of the American Legion Paradise Post 259 and most proudly the USS Hornet Association, where he is an original plank owner. He was a man of honor and integrity, had a sense of humor that was infectious, and would do anything he could to help anyone that needed it.
Hank is survived by his wife, Helen; son and daughter-in-law, Warren and Anita Wertz of Stockton; daughter and son-in-law, Lavonne and Jeff Fogel of Magalia; his beloved grandchildren, Darrell Wertz and his wife, Stephanie of Virginia; Alissa Wertz of Stockton; Nathan Fogel and his wife, Sandra of Magalia; Kayla Fogel of San Diego; Shannon Fogel of Chico; Rebecca Fogel of Turlock; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Genie and Lexie Fogel. He is also survived by two brothers, Donald Wertz of Yerington, NV, Carl Wertz of Yountville; sister, Violet Traba of Santa Rosa, and many extended family members.
~ ~ ~
91-year-old Henry Harold Wertz was interred, per the Glen Oaks Memorial Park Burial Records, in the plot noted on December 23, 2010.
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