David Lyle Fetzer

Dave Fetzer Obituary

                David Lyle Fetzer was called to heaven on June 16th, 2018.  He passed away peacefully at his farm surrounded by family. 

                Dave was born in Sterling, Colorado on October 9, 1946, to Fred J. and Clara Fetzer.  He was the youngest of nine children.  Dave attended the Rockland school through the 8th grade.  He then started school at Haxtun High School, from which he graduated in 1964. 

                After high school, Dave worked for a short time on the family farm until he was drafted into the United States Army on February 14, 1966, to serve in the Vietnam War.  Before being deployed to Vietnam, Dave was sent to France to help with the Paris International Air and Space Salon.  In the Army, he was trained to be a helicopter mechanic where he was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army.  He served until Dec. 9, 1968, when he received an honorable discharge, with the ranking of Specialist E5.  Dave received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 O/S Bars, Army Commendation Medal and the Marksmans Badge with Rifle Bar. 

                In 1969, Dave was employed at the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado.  Then, in 1970, Dave married Joyce Riley and they lived in Golden until Dave broke his leg.  They then moved back to Haxtun to help on the family farm.  Dave started farming in 1971 and retired in 2013.  In the spring of 1971, Dave and Joyce welcomed their first child, Daniel Lorin, who was born May 25, 1971.  Dave & Joyce welcomed a daughter, Anita Lyn, on June 20, 1973.  The youngest, Damon Lyle, was born on August 21, 1975.  In 1980, Dave and family moved to the home place of Fred and Clara Fetzer.  

                As the years went by, Dave thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family, attending his grandchildren’s events, going camping, restoring old tractors and participating in 2-cylinder tractor pulls.  Dave was an avid collector of anything John Deere – especially toy tractors.  He was also a talented woodworker – making several items for his wife, children and grandchildren.

                Dave was a 50-year member of the Haxtun American Legion Fred C. Lewman Post #137, the VFW, the DAV, the Haxtun United Methodist Church and the Platte Valley Tractor Pullers Association. 

                Dave is survived by his wife Joyce, children Dan and wife Christine – Brittany & Kendrick, Haxtun; Anita and husband Dave Poss – Dustin, Derrick, Nadalyn, Caleb & Shayan, Akron; Damon and wife Sarah – Kaylin, Trinity & Sidney, Ft. Collins; sister Alma Frank, brother Bob and wife Ronda Fetzer, brother Dean Fetzer, brother-in-law Kenneth Salyards, sisters-in-law RoseMary Fetzer and JoAnna Johnson, plus numerous nieces and nephews. 

                Dave was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Lorin & Zola Riley, brothers Albert Fetzer, Emil Fetzer and Ken Fetzer; sisters Lily Salyards and Wilma Tanner; brothers-in-law Ross Frank and Marvin Tanner; sisters-in-law Cleo Fetzer and Deanna Fetzer; nephew John Fetzer, nieces Carol Frank and Debra Jo Fetzer.

                Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 23rd at 10:00 am at the Haxtun United Methodist Church with Pastor Jeri Soens officiating the service.  Burial will be at the Haxtun Cemetery.  Baucke Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.

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