Fetzer, Charles B. 'Barney'

Charles B. “Barney” Fetzer, 88, of Williamsburg, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, at English Valley Care Center, North English, from complications of cancer. Graveside services: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Victor, with Pastor Carl Cloeter officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo.

Charles Burton Fetzer was born Jan. 23, 1923, in rural Williamsburg, Iowa, to Walter Jonathan and Elsie Marie (Gerard) Fetzer. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1941 and ran on the first Williamsburg State Championship cross-country team in 1939. He married Helen Leona Meyer on April 16, 1944, in Williamsburg. He operated the Standard Oil gas station on the Williamsburg square (where Pizza Haus is now located) from 1946-1964, then moved out to the Standard Oil station at I-80 and Amana Exit. That station became Amoco Oil and later BP and is presently operated by his two sons. He also co-owned the Colony Haus Restaurant (now Ox-Yoke Interstate) and the motel at the same exit on I-80.

He was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, served with the Williamsburg Fire Department for which he was fire chief for eight years, and was employed for many years as a substitute rural mail carrier.

He enjoyed being with family, hunting, fishing, crafts, bowling, gardening, landscaping and visits to the casino. Following his retirement, the couple resided in Guttenberg, Iowa and Sun City, Ariz.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, of 67 years; two sons, William Fetzer and wife Pamela and Donald Fetzer and wife Rosemary, both of Williamsburg; daughter, Nancy Pettibone and husband Tim of Pleasant Grove, Utah; seven grandchildren, Blair (Andrea), Ross, Olivia Hocker (Adam), Nicholas, Aaron Johnson (Amy), Tera Holmes (Steven) and Megan Johnson; seven great-grandchildren, Brennan and Luke Fetzer, Halle and Kiah Johnson, Alec Johnson, Grant and Ava Hocker; four brothers, Lester (Jean), James (Shirley Jean), Ray and Howard (Ann); three sisters, Shirley Alberhasky (James), Marlene Seydel (Robert) and Mary Jane Schenkel (Robert); and two sisters-in-law, Tillie Fetzer and Ilene Meyer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lloyd; two sisters, Margaret Yoder and Rita; and son-in-law, Sandy Johnson.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at .

Published Oct. 9, 2011, in The Gazette