Isadore 'Pete' Henry Stoetzel

Hastings resident, Isadore Pete Henry Stoetzel, 85, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2012 in Lincoln, NE. Services will be Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:30 at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE with military rites by the Hastings Military Group. Visitation will be Friday, February 24, 2012 from 9 am to 9 pm with the family present from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, Ne. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Isadore Henry Pete Stoetzel was born February, 17th 1927 to Henry J. and Anna Belle (Favinger) Stoetzel in Hays County Nebraska. Pete started sports at a very young age, playing lots of softball in grade school. In 1942 Pete's family moved to Hastings, NE and Pete started school at Hastings Senior High School as a junior. He made the reserve or junior varsity teams in football and basketball, along with the American Legion baseball team. Pete played short stop but later changed to 3rd baseman. He graduated from Hastings High in 1943. Pete continued to play baseball for almost 30 years either as a 3rd baseman or out in left field. A memorable experience was his chance to try out for the St. Louis Browns and the Phillies. He was assigned to play for the Yankees on their farm team in Nebraska. Pete played a lot of semi-pro baseball and led the National Independent League in batting average with a 384. He also had the most triples (6) and hit a home run 377 feet over the wall on Hastings Duncan field. Pete served in the United States Army during WWII he was stationed in Oakwood, TN where he guarded the atomic bomb as an MP. In 1946 he was out of the army and played ball for the NIL. Pete also went to Hastings College under the GI bill. Pete met Betty Svendgard on a blind date while he was in school and she was in nurse training. They went on their first date to a softball game. However, as soon as Betty finished her nurses training in September 1948, they became serious and were married November 26th 1948 in Blair, NE at the Danish Lutheran Church. Pete continued to play baseball until 1953 when he became a math teacher and moved to Duncan, NE. The following year he started coaching and coached for 13 years. He taught school and coached in Benedict, Henderson and Callaway, NE. Pete owned Stoetzel Sales and Construction for many years after retiring Pete and Betty moved to Fort Collins, CO, moving back to Hastings, NE, February 2009, when Pete's failing health hospitalized him until he passed away in 2012. Pete enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Hastings, Ne. He is survived by his wife Betty of Hastings, NE, six daughters, Susan Bartels of Alliance, NE, Sherry Detamore of Giltner, NE, Sheila Damon of Madison, AL, Stephanie Hahn of Ft. Collins, CO, Sandra Neimeyer of Florida, and Sharlene Stoetzel of Lincoln, NE, and one son, Scott Stoetzel of of Hastings, NE, 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren, and one son-in-law, Mark Myers, of Hastings, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Sallie Myers, one grandson and one brother. Memorials may be given to the family.