Hans Zeitler of Middletown died peacefully Friday, March 5, 2010, at his home. He was 96.
Mr. Zeitler was born in the village of Theta, in southern Germany. His family and other relatives emigrated to the U.S. in 1924.
His family farmed in several states before settling in Glasgow. From the 1940s to 1970, Mr. Zeitler worked with his brothers as the herdsman on Zeitler Farms, currently the Glasgow Park. The 600-acre farm was known for having one of the best Guernsey herds on the East Coast. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Zeitler grain farmed around Middletown with his brother Maximilian Zeitler.
He was a baptized minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1971.
Mr. Zeitler was a loving husband and devoted family man, avid gardener and enjoyed telling many stories about living the immigrant, pioneer life in the 1920s and 1930s.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Dorothy; three brothers, Fritz Zeitler, Christian Zeitler and Maximilian Zeitler; a grandson, Paul Zeitler Jr.; and a daughter-in-law, Jean Zeitler.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Martha; three daughters and a son-in-law, Arlene Zeitler, Caroline Zeitler and Sara and Jeffrey McDowell; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Gary and Betty Zeitler, and Paul and Evelyn (Sarah) Zeitler; four grandsons, David Zeitler, Jason Zeitler, Kevin Zeitler and Michael Zeitler; a granddaughter, Jenny McDowell; seven great-granddaughters, Brittany Zeitler, Bethany, Victoria Zeitler, Elizabeth Zeitler, Emma Zeitler, Hannah Zeitler and Elayna Zeitler; a great-grandson, Jason ZeitlerJr.; a stepdaughter, Edna Castro; a stepgrandson, Eric Rivera and his wife, Laura; stepgreat-grandchildren, William Rivera and Alexander Rivera; two sisters, Louise Witmer of Lancaster, Pa, and Elizabeth Haenlein of Galena, Md.; and many nieces and nephews.
The family extends special thanks to Delaware Hospice and nurse Michelle Smith, and American Home Patient for their kindnesses and compassion during his illness.
Services will be held Saturday, March 13, at 1 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 173 Noxontown Rd., Middletown.
Arrangements by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown.
