Carl A. Herzig

1940 - 2023

Carl A. Herzig

Colrain, MA - Carl Herzig passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on June 30, 2023 after an extended illness.

Carl was born on July 20, 1940, the son of Eva (Giard) and Howard Herzig Sr. Carl attended Colrain Schools and Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, MA.

As a teenager Carl worked with his Uncle Walt learning the trade of animal butchery. During this time, he also worked for Purington Farm raising cattle and Lively and Kinsman farms helping to raise Turkeys for sale.

Carl often spoke fondly of his work as a Fireman at The Carey Cider Mill in Foundry Village in the mid 1950's. In 1960 he went on to work at Kendall Mills in Foundry Village for 23 years as a maintenance man. While working at the mill Carl worked for himself, going house to house processing livestock to feed the people who raised them.

Carl became a Police Officer in 1972 and continued to practice a friendly respectful brand of community policing until his retirement at the rank of Chief of Police in 2009. While policing in Colrain, Carl was often a mentor for other officers, teaching a caring community manner of policing that many to this day state became the core of their approach throughout their careers.

In 1977 he opened the Herzig Custom Slaughterhouse on his property in Colrain. As the business continued to grow, Carl left the mill in 1983 to operate the business full time, and along with his family and other community members served their many customers until 2014.

Over the years Carl was elected and honorably served as Constable and as a Select Board member. He was appointed as a Dog Officer and as Tax Collector and served on the Conservation Commission and Colrain Council on Aging. When he took time for himself, he liked to go fishing, worked in the garden, and still flashed a move on the square dance floor at the Heath Fair.

Carl met his blushing bride Diane (Snow) at a square dance in Wilmington VT in 1960.

They were married August 17,1963 and moved into their lifetime home on Christian Hill Road in November 1964. Together they raised 3 children, along with many a critter.

Carl is survived by his loving wife Diane, daughter Melinda and husband Gary Ponce of Colrain, Carl Jr and his wife Eva of Buckland and Holland Sr. and his wife Christine of Colrain. Carl adored his grandchildren Amber Ponce, Andrew Ponce, Daniel Dyer, Mary Nelson, Zebulun Herzig, Natalie Lapa, Holland Jr and Braden Herzig along with his great grandchildren Ronin Ponce, Gabriella Hosier, Dante Ponce and Duane Herzig. He leaves a brother Howard Herzig of Pocahontas, Virginia and a sister Gloria Tatro of Greenfield, Ma. Carl also leaves many cousins nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Eva (Giard), Howard Herzig; brother Wallace Herzig, brother-in-law Roger Purington Sr, sister Roberta Purington, sister Leah Herzig, brother Rudolph Herzig and sister-in-law Ruth Herzig.

Visiting hours will take place Friday, 7/7 from 5 to 7 pm at the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, 7/8, at 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Peace Parish, 90 Seventh St., Turners Falls. Committal prayers will follow in West Branch Cemetery in Colrain.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution to the Colrain Firefighters Association, Po Box 104, Colrain, MA or to the Colrain Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 37, Colrain, MA.