Wallace E. "Wally" Hertel, 91 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 4:10 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2014 in Adams Woodcrest. Wally was born on Friday, April 13, 1923 in Burlington, Wisconsin the son of the late Frederick W. Hertel and the late Anna (Schroeder). He married Wanda M. Busse on December 13, 1947 in Zion Lutheran Church - Decatur and she survives. Wally was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church-Decatur; the Holy Trinity Church in Port Charlotte, FL; Chairman of the Property Committee of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; Chairman of Church Relations; Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity; American Red Cross Disaster Response Team in Port Charlotte, FL; Chairman of Charlotte County Waterway Maintenance Committee in Port Charlotte, FL. Wally enjoyed sailing, traveling, and carpentry. Wally served his country in the United States Navy during World War II where he served in the Western Pacific. Wally was employed by Wisconsin Southern Gas Co., Lake Geneva, Wisconsin as a Cadet Engineer. For the next 40 years, he was engaged in gas utility work as a licensed Master Gas Fitter and a Register Professional Engineer bringing natural gas to many towns and cities in southern Wisconsin, New Jersey, western Massachusetts and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Wally retired from Berkshire Gas Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1985 after 40 years of service as Senior VP of Engineering; he retired to Port Charlotte Florida where he was an active member of his church and community. In 2002, he moved from Florida to Woodcrest of Decatur. Surviving are his wife, Wanda M. Hertel of Decatur, IN; son, Mark A. (Evelyn Yanagida) Hertel of Honolulu, Hawaii; son, Keith W. (Dianne) Hertel of Schertz, TX; grandson, Timothy W. (Andrea) Hertel of The Woodlands, TX; granddaughter, Katherine M. "Katie" (Grady) Sanner of McKinney, TX; granddaughter, Tiana M. Hertel of New York, NY; four great-grandchildren: Olivia Hertel; Mason Hertel; Graham Sanner; Hannah Sanner. Preceding Wallace in death was one brother, Roland W. Hertel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 19, 2014 in the Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Becker officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery. Military Graveside Honors will be conducted by American Legion Post #43 Color Guard. Friends will be received from 3-5 & 6-8 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2014 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, IN and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Preferred memorials are to Zion Lutheran Church-Decatur; or Adams County Habitat for Humanity.
