Howard Hetrick

HOWARD E. HETRICK, 89 loving dad and grandpa ROCKFORD - Howard E. Hetrick, 89, of Rockford, went to be with the Lord Friday, April 26, 2013, from Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, Rockford. Born May 22, 1923, in Rockford, the son of Floyd and Florence (Johnson) Hetrick. Graduated from Byron High School in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 25, 1942, serving until February 9, 1946, during WWII. Howard married Elizabeth J. "Betty" Bridgeland on June 5, 1948, in Middle Creek Presbyterian Church, Winnebago. He was a right-of-way engineer for Commonwealth Edison, retiring in 1987. Howard was an active member of First Evangelical Free Church, serving as head usher, its Maranatha Sunday school class and a member of the American Legion Post in Byron. Upon retirement, Betty and Howard enjoyed traveling and camping in their 5th-wheel, besides being snowbirds in Arizona, where he played and coached softball into his mid-seventies. In addition, Howard enjoyed gardening, but his passion was being Dad and Grandpa. Howard is lovingly survived by daughters, Marcie (John) Scott of Oconomowoc, Wis., Lisa (Jim) Pinkerton of San Diego, Calif., Danita "Dee" Kleindl of Winnebago and Brenda (Keith) Cizowski of Brentwood, Tenn.; grandchildren, Annie and Rachel Scott, Bethany (John) Kratz, Jimmy (fiancée, Stephanie), Kate and Leslie Pinkerton, P.F.C. Zachery and Andrew Kleindl and Allyson and Jared Cizowski; brother-in-law, Harold Bridgeland of Rockford; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty, on September 5, 2006 and daughter, Jodie Cae Hetrick on December 26, 1954. Service is at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center Chapel, 3470 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford, with visitation 11 a.m. until service time; the Rev. Chuck Rife, Sr., of First Evangelical Free Church, will officiate. Burial in Middle Creek Cemetery, Winnebago. Arrangements by Genandt Funeral Home, 602 N. Elida St., Winnebago. A memorial will be established. To sign the guestbook, give your condolences or light a candle, visit genandtfuneralhome.com.