Harold Zwierlein

Harold Zwierlein

Resident of Woodside

December 24, 1926 - November 9, 2010

Harold Zwierlein was born in Palo Alto, CA to the late Edmund Zwierlein and Elfleda King Zwierlein. He is preceded in death by his brother William Zwierlein and his son Branndon Auger Zwierlein.

Harold attended Palo Alto High School and moved from Palo Alto to Woodside in 1941 where he resided until his passing. Growing up he worked in his father's shoe stores in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and San Mateo. As a teen Harold worked for the Holt's Country Store, gas station, ice- house and soda fountain after school and weekends, and enjoyed sharing the many stories about this time in his life. He began riding steers at eight years old and went on to become a rodeo star; touring the country on the rodeo circuit competing from California to New York's Madison Square Garden, winning mostly in bareback riding. He was a well-respected businessman, horse shoeing from 1957-1991, owner of a horseshoeing supply, and partner in the Hitchrack Saloon in Woodside with Butch Coggins. Active in the community, Harold served over the years as a volunteer firefighter, member of Woodside's History Committee and on the Woodside City council. He was a founding member of the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association. He served as Director and Co-chair of the Junior Rodeo for 31 years, and was instrumental in bringing the July 4th Junior Rodeo from the Glass ranch in La Honda to the Mounted Patrol Grounds in Woodside for the San Mateo County Horseman's Association. Harold enjoyed dancing and had a love of country music.

Harold was diagnosed with cancer June 2010 and continued to play golf with his brother, and have coffee daily as he had for the past 45 years with his old friends. Rarely apart he loved working beside his wife Irenne, in the yard or on jobsites. Harold was extremely proud of all grandchildren and received great joy from their many visits. When they visited he loved walking with them on Woodside trails, attending the Woodside Junior Rodeo, teaching them to rope, gardening, carpentry and hunting skills. He was a wonderful Grandpa to all the children and loved his little Pot Lickers.

Harold is survived by his wife Irenne Soto Zwierlein, his brother Edward Zwierlein his hunting and golfing buddy his children Carolyn Zwierlein Whiting of Ben Lomond, Kurt Zwierlein of Acampo, Garrett Auger, Danniel Auger, Michelle Zimmer and his grandchildren, Ashley, Garry, Andrew, Phoenixx, Christopher, Nora, Allison, Shelby, Hailee, Preston, Kylie, Kaitlynn.

The memorial service for Harold Zwierlein will be on Saturday, November 20th at 2:00pm. Location is Mounted Patrol Grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside.

The family requests "no flowers". They ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:

San Mateo County Horsemen's Association, P.O. Box 620092, Woodside, CA. 94062

Sutter VNA Hospice, 700 S. Claremont Avenue Suite #220, San Mateo, CA. 94402