February 4, 1942 - June 19, 2017
Harry Gene Nitschke, 75, of Lodi, passed away on June 19, 2017 at Lodi Memorial Hospital.
Harry was born in Lodi, CA to Theodore and Lydia Nitschke on February 4, 1942. He graduated from Lodi Union High School and enlisted in the Army where he served for 6 years. He met the love of his life, Soon Ja, while stationed in Seoul, Korea. He married Soon Ja Nitschke on September 18, 1962 in Seoul, Korea. He worked for Pac Bell and AT&T for a combined 25 years before starting his own business Harry Nitschke Telephone Systems. Harry operated his business for 27 years finally closing the doors this year.
Harry G. Nitschke is preceded in death by mother Lydia, father Theodore and sister Frances Nitschke. Harry is survived by wife Soon Ja Nitschke, daughter Katherine Nitschke and son Harry Nitschke Jr, brothers Clifford, Willys, Larry, and Dennis Nitschke, grandchildren Christina Aguila, Johnnae Gamble, John Gamble, and great-Grandchildren Cristian Brown, Jeremy Brown, Jett Williams and niece Diana Furukawa. You will truly be missed.
SERVICES
Funeral services will be held 10am on Friday, June 23, 2017 with a visitation an hour prior in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 and Harney Ln, Lodi CA. A reception and celebration of Harry’s life will be held after the funeral services at the Moose Lodge on 3824 Woodbridge Rd E., Acampo, CA.
Highway 99 on horseback and when driving a car at 13 years old earned you only a warning by your local police officer. Called Bobby in his youth, he was known to get in his fair share of trouble and laughed about it for many years into the future. During the Korean War, he proudly served his country and was awarded both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, but rarely spoke of either. Instead, he preferred to talk about how great our country is and how lucky we were to inherit it.
Robert learned of his first daughter’s birth while overseas, and upon returning home filled out his family with two more boys and two more girls, whom he talked about often. Over the years, Robert owned and operated several businesses, including convenience stores and liquor stores, coached youth baseball teams and laughed easily. His undying love for the Oakland Athletics was rarely rewarded but never seemed to fade. In his later years, Robert reveled in being a grandfather, talking often of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Easygoing and quick with an encouraging word (or a gentle tease), Robert always looked sharp in one of his many brimmed hats.