Richard Pitzl, 79, of Hendricks, Minn., died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at his home.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Faith Lutheran Church in Hendricks. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Faith Lutheran Church in Hendricks with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Hendricks City Cemetery with full military honors by the Rueben-Hansen American Legion Post No. 457 of Hendricks. Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel of Hendricks is entrusted with the arrangements.
Richard George Pitzl was born on March 19, 1938, near Evan, Minn., to parents John and Kathryn (Schwint) Pitzl. He was raised on the farm near Morgan, Minn., and he graduated from Morgan High School in 1956.
After graduation he enlisted in the Army National Guard and served 2 years and then he proudly served his country for 10 years in the United States Navy.
While in the Navy he served on the USS Miller from 1960-1963 and then he was commissioned as Plank Owner upon the USS Richard E. Byrd from 1964-1968, as a Boiler Technician. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 19, 1968, in Norfolk, Va.
Richard married Connie Coppo and to this union four children were born. They later divorced.
Richard married Ramona (Pierce) Mason on June 18, 1977, in Watertown. After their marriage a year was spent in Evan, Minn., and several years in Vermont until purchasing their 80 acre farm near Hendricks in 1987. He farmed and restored antique John Deere tractors and classic cars.
He also worked for Olsen Custom Farms from 2005 until his death. He enjoyed John Deere tractors whether it was tractor shows or restoring them in his shop. He also enjoyed classic cars and watching Westerns on TV. Time spent with his family and friends meant the world to him especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was a member of the Rueben-Hansen American Legion, Post No 457 of Hendricks.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ramona Pitzl of Hendricks; his children: Richard J. Pitzl of Nashua, N.H., Ann Heidi (David) Morse of Nashua, N.H., Lisa M. (Ed) Gibbs of Rogersville, Tenn., John J. Pitzl of Hendricks, Shelley R. Jannar of Cornelius, N.C., Robbie Mason of Sioux Falls, Jessica (Burton) Wilkins of Greensboro, N.C; 10 grandchildren seven great-grandchildren:; his siblings: Katherine (Frank) Peppersack of Parkers Prairie, Minn., Lawrence (Fran) Pitzl of Wabasso, Minn., and Russell (Linda) Pitzl of Hendricks and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Roger (Verda) Pitzl and brother-in-law, Robert Pierce.
