Eugene F. Hetzel

Eugene Hetzel, of Palmyra, died peacefully on Friday, December 15, with his loving family by his side.

Eugene was born in Harrisburg in 1937 to Frank and Helen Hetzel. He attended John Harris High School before obtaining a degree in Civil Engineering at Bucknell University. He followed this with a Masters in Regional Planning from Penn State. He was a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. He served with the US Army during the Berlin Crisis of 1962.

In August 1962 he married Priscilla Barninger. They moved to Quincy, California where he worked as a surveyor and firefighter for the US Forestry Service. Eugene and Priscilla lived in Quincy for a year, starting their family before moving back to Pennsylvania, where Eugene obtained a position with Michael Baker Jr., Inc. In 1985 he spearheaded the company’s first expansion to New Jersey, paving the way for further expansions in Phoenix, Richmond and Tampa. He was employed at Michael Baker Jr. Inc. until his retirement in 2002.

Eugene was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed walking, hiking and biking. He was a member of the Palmyra Gun Club, and competed in Cowboy Action Shooting matches. He loved spending time in his backyard gardening and playing with his dog Callie.

He is survived by Priscilla, his wife of 61 years, a daughter Kelly Wilhelm, and son in law Eric of Evergreen, Colorado, and son Stuart Hetzel and daughter in law Barbara of Harrisburg, 4 grandchildren, Elysha Cromleigh, Kaysee Seig, Adam Wilhelm and Krysta Laird, 7 great grandchildren and a brother Alan Hetzel of Camp Hill.

A private service with Military Honors will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at MichaelJFox.org.