Harry HIbbard Shuler Sr.

1925 - 2017

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Harry Hibbard Shuler, Sr. went Home on June 21, 2017. He was the best of the Greatest Generation.
Harry Shuler was born on February 11, 1925, in Huntington Beach, CA. He grew up in Bell, CA, during the Depression. From his "Pops," he learned the core values that would guide him throughout his life and pass on to his children and grandchildren: courtesy and kindness, honesty, hard work, the importance of a good education, an unshakable love for family, and an unstinting love for God and country. He left high school at the age of 17 to enlist in the Army Air Core during WWII. (Yes, one of the only lies he ever told was about his age so he could join the military war effort.) He wanted to fly. Unfortunately, he spent most of the war shepherding brass and dignitaries around the Middle East. Occasionally, he would be called in to teach senior officers "how to fly by instruments, to fly blind." While he didn't see the action he wanted, he returned home humbled and grateful. Under the GI bill he pursued an engineering degree first at UCLA and then at USC. (He was a devoted Trojan football fan.) While in college, he competed with a rag-tag team of fellow gymnasts. The guys would enter tournaments at the last minute, pool their money, and drive to tourneys, hoping to compete last. Minus a coach most of the time, they would study the routines of other gymnasts to memorize the compulsory moves and make up their own routines on the fly. His career culminated with a Silver Medal on the pommel horse in the AAU. In his waning days of college, Harry Shuler met Ingeborg Zahn, the daughter of his father's boss at a Christmas party. Although she was engaged at the time, that did not deter the persistent Harry. He wooed his lady and won the day; they were married on April 16, 1950, two months before he graduated from USC as a civil engineer.
Upon graduation, Harry went straight to work for San Joaquin County as a civil engineer. One of his early jobs was to fix a swing bridge over a river that did not quite meet the opposite bank when swung into place. (Oops, but Harry fixed it.) A few years later, he left the public sector and went to work for Nomellini Construction, a general contractor. While working on one of their projects, it became evident a plumbing subcontractor was struggling. So in 1956, at the behest of his employer, he got involved with Pacific Plumbing and Heating Corp., trying to right the ship. In 1959, Harry became the sole stockholder of Pacific Plumbing and Heating Corp. The company thrived under his leadership and was one of the largest employers of the industry in northern California until he retired in 2006. Perhaps one of the pivotal jobs in his business was the construction of the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center in San Francisco. During the early days, Harry's family remembers him traveling to jobs in Reno, Nevada, and back in the same day. At the company's height, Pacific Plumbing and Heating had jobs not only in California and Nevada, but also in Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma and Tennessee, and it was at that point that Harry asked his son, Harry Shuler, Jr., who was working for Bechtel in San Francisco as a civil engineer, to join him in the business. And so his son came home; he came home to help and support his father. (It's what we do; it's what he taught us.) During his career, Harry served as President of the Northern San Joaquin Valley SMACNA Chapter and in 1982 was elected President of California SMACNA. He was not only an employer but also a mentor to many who worked for him. He inspired several of his key personnel to venture out and start their own mechanical contracting firms. Many kept in touch, still seeking his tutelage and friendship.
When Harry left work and came home, he was all ours. Dinner was at six o'clock. Even when we were in high school, activities were scheduled around dinner. The nightly family meal was sacrosanct. Mom always took great care to prepare a delicious meal and welcoming atmosphere. (It didn't hurt that she was a fabulous cook!) We shared the joys and woes of the day, always made brighter and lighter because we were together. After dinner, if there was any homework left (any math or science that needed Dad's help), it was quickly dispatched. When we were young, tickle fests, back scratches, and cuddles followed a bedtime snack. (And you always wanted Dad to dish it out because he gave bigger portions of ice cream than Mom. Sorry, Mom.) When we were older, there were longer, individual conversations. Dad instilled in all of us high expectations. It was definitely not all right "just to show up." You had to try your best at every task put before you. "Arrive early and stay late." You give everything you have all day, every day. And we all worked so hard. We didn't need a lot of discipline: none of us wanted to disappoint Dad. When we had our setbacks or failures, again he would counsel, "You need to roll with the punches." "This too shall pass." And remember, "The cream always rises to the top." He encouraged us to keep working hard, to never give up-that eventually we, his "cream," would rise to the top. Years later, we realized that after we went to bed, the plans for some job he had left in the car would come out, and he would spend some part of what was left of his night bidding a job. Mom was a saint-one he loved and appreciated for all her sacrifices. When they got married, they didn't "have two pennies to rub together." Dad always played "things close to the vest" financially, but when his kids were out of college, he designed and built their dream home for his wife Inge on the banks of the Mokelumne River in Lodi. Of course, the construction far exceeded standard building code requirements (where 2" x 4" walls would typically be used, 2" x 6" were constructed; where 3/4" thick subflooring was standard, 1-1/8" was installed; where 24" spacing between structural members sufficed, 20" was employed…). There were copper gutters, used brick salvaged from the old San Francisco Cable Car Station, his wife's sunken "conversation pit" (with nearly 6 feet of concrete beneath) and an island in the kitchen low enough so his petite wife could roll out her dough for his apple pie crusts and Sauerbraten dumplings. He added a flagpole near the bank where they proudly flew the "red, white, and blue" and the California state flag, visible to all who passed by on the river. Harry was so proud of his wife and children. His wife Inge helped establish the Tully C. Knoles' elementary school library, volunteered for the Camp Fire Girls' organization, and was a dedicated docent for Mickie Grove Zoo. All of his children graduated from excellent colleges and pursued thoughtful careers. In Harry's words, "I thank the good Lord for my blessings and problems."
Harry is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon "Pops" and Rose Shuler, his wife's parents, Martin and Katie Zahn (He taught Katie "Nana" how to drive.), his brother Vernon Shuler, Jr., his very precious daughter-in-law Jeanette Shuler (She prayed he would come to know Jesus, and he did.), and his special niece Meridith Shelstead (She called him Uncle Hib.). He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ingeborg "Inge" Shuler (He never wanted her far from his side, unless she was shopping or getting her hair fixed.); his children, Janet Shuler (William Brewer), Julie Shuler, and Harry Shuler, Jr.; his grandchildren, Abby Hoover (Ryan), Rachel Roeschen (Joe), Harry Shuler III, Daniel Shuler, and Joseph Shuler; his great-grandchildren, Madeline Hoover and Baby Roeschen (still nesting). His children and grandchildren owe so much to their father and grandfather and give thanks for his tangible legacy. We all love him, miss him, and carry him in our hearts and lives. He helped shape who and what we are…, caring, resolute, and responsible citizens. He helped us, too, to dream. He made sure we had the foundation and the resources to do so. He was our patriarch. We'll see you-Harry, Dad, Grandpa-when we get Home.
Memorial services for Harry Hibbard Shuler, Sr. will be private. The family gratefully welcomes any stories or memories about Harry you care to share. Please no gifts. God richly blessed my mother with her husband and our family with our father and grandfather. On behalf of the family, may God bless you as generously as He has us.