Dave Fetzer

    David Lyle Fetzer was called to heaven June 16, 2018. He died peacefully at his farm, surrounded by family.
    Dave was born in Sterling on Oct. 9, 1946, to Fred J. and Clara Fetzer. He was the youngest of nine children.
    Dave attended the Rockland school through the eighth grade, then started school at Haxtun High School, graduating 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 Feb. 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, two O/S Bars, Army Commendation Medal and the Marksmans Badge with Rifle Bar.
    In 1969, Dave was employed at the Coors Brewery in Golden. 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. They welcomed a daughter, Anita Lyn, on June 20, 1973, and Damon Lyle was born on Aug. 21, 1975. In 1980, the 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 two-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 Haxtun American Legion Fred C. Lewman Post #137, VFW, DAV, Haxtun United Methodist Church and Platte Valley Tractor Pullers Association.
    Dave is survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Dan and wife Christine and children Brittany and Kendrick of Haxtun, Anita and husband Dave Poss and children Dustin, Derrick, Nadalyn, Caleb and Shayan of Akron, and Damon and wife Sarah and children Kaylin, Trinity and Sidney of Fort Collins; sister, Alma Frank; brothers, Bob and wife Ronda Fetzer, and Dean Fetzer; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Salyards, Hugh and wife Mava Riley of Conroe, Texas, and Larry and wife Vida Riley of Longmont; sisters-in-law RoseMary Fetzer, JoAnna Johnson and Jeanette Williams of Fruita;  plus numerous nieces and nephews.
    Dave was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Lorin and 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; and nieces, Carol Frank and Debra Jo Fetzer.
    Funeral services were held Saturday, June 23, at Haxtun United Methodist Church, with Pastor Jeri Soens officiating the service. Burial was at the Haxtun Cemetery. Baucke Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.