A
Celebration of Life NEAL HERTZMANN…
One-of-a-kind true friend to
many, Neal Hertzmann passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family
February 21, 2022. He is preceded in death by his parents Louis and Olga
(Betty) Hertzmann and Neal’s dearest wife of forty-three years Peggy, who
passed away in 2002.
Neal’s love and loyalty will
live on forever in all of us. The Hertzmann children: daughter Kim Marnin and son-in-law John, son
Steve Hertzmann and daughter-in-law Hali, daughter Julie Marada and son-in-law
John. Also, the six grandchildren Aubrey (and Anthony), Jordan, Justin,
Brittany, Jake (and Chelsea), and Maddison, and Hertzmann’s new Great
Granddaughter, Chloe; as well as, Sandy Washabaugh, Neal’s companion for the
past eighteen years.
Dad with the kids, Julie, Kim and Steve and Neal’s grandson
Justin (on the left)
and
granddaughter Aubrey's husband, Anthony (on the right).
Orin Neal Hertzmann was born August
17,1929 at Chanute Army Air Corp Base (near Rantoul, Illinois), to Louis and
Olga (Betty) Hertzmann. Primarily, Neal was raised in Gibson City and
Champaign, Illinois.
Neal was always a very good student, while
attending high school, he excelled in Latin and Math, participated in
wrestling, all the while working at the local grocery store.
Neal’s higher education seemed to be
directed to military and engineering, beginning at the University of Illinois where
he was enrolled in the ROTC program, was a member of the Pershing Rifles (a
military drill team), played soccer and wrestled. Neal’s senior year he
interviewed with Douglas Aircraft and accepted their job offer because of the
lure of sunny California.
In 1951 Neal Hertzmann received his
degree in Mechanical Engineering, and while waiting for his security clearance,
the U.S. Army called Neal
Hertzmann up as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the
Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky, joining the basic training divisions
teaching tank driving and maintenance.
Shortly thereafter, he was made
Company Commander of a 200+ man group. Neal served two years in the U.S. Army
and then received a Hughes Aircraft Fellowship to attend University of Southern
California, where he graduated with an MS in Mechanical Engineering in 1956.
Neal
Hertzmann worked at Hughes Aircraft for the next 35 plus years, primarily
in the Space Program. Much of his work was classified, but at his retirement,
his government customer (Mr. Iwai) stated, “…because of Neal, this country
is a much safer place!”
The Celebration of the Life of NEAL HERTZMANN Memorial
Service will be Saturday March 19, 2022 1:00 P.M. at St. Columba’s, located
at 42324 North Shore Drive, Big Bear City, CA 92314. Presiding officiate will be Lutheran Pastor Tim Edmundson.
Friends may send
cards and messages to Sandy Washabaugh at: Sandydadaof5 @aol.com or
Post Office Box 2814, Big Bear City 92314 or 909 -744-0944.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the
Neal Hertzmann Memorial Fund c/o Ascension Lutheran Church at 26231 Silver Spur Rd, RPV, CA 90275 or
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neal Hertzmann memorial fund at: http://giftfunds.stjude.org
Thank You, from the Hertzmann Family.
Editor’s note: See the tribute to Neal Herzmann THE MAN About
Town at: https://www.bigbearlake.net/The-Serving