Robert David Hetzel

Robert David Hetzel, age 88, of Edgerton, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2022, at home. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1934, the son of Leo and Kathleen Hetzel. Robert served his country during the Korean War in the United States Navy from 1952-1960. He was a crewmember on a Lockheed P2V Neptune Anti-Submarine Aircraft that patrolled the Atlantic Coast. He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Sandra Mae Burrell on February 25, 1967, in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. Robert worked on many engineering projects in the petroleum, pharmaceutical, chemical, and nuclear industries. One of his most notable career accomplishments was working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, where he was integral to perfecting the process of Uranium enrichment. He was also the Lead Engineer and Project Manager on-site in Beijing, China where he designed and supervised the construction of the factory that produced Kodak disposable cameras.
Robert enjoyed golfing, watching Phillies baseball, and going to Nascar races. In his younger years, he was a racecar driver in the SCCA.
Robert is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandy Hetzel; four children: Cathy Meller, Beth Hetzel-DeFazio, Brian Hetzel, and Rob Hetzel; four grandchildren: Alex Meller, John Meller, Victoria DeFazio, and Sedona DeFazio; two sisters: Betty Brown and Mary Spady. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Leo Buzz Hetzel.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 10. 2022, at Spicer Mullikin Funeral Home in New Castle, Delaware. Visitation will take place on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Gracelawn Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware.