Adolph "Curly" Eitzmann

Adolph “Curly” Eitzmann, age 89 of Byron, Nebraska, died on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at the Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, Nebraska. Born to Frederick and Anna Dittmer Eitzmann on November 2, 1917 in rural Byron.

Adolph was baptized on November 11, 1917 by Pastor Fred Schardt at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Byron. He was confirmed on October 18, 1931 by Pastor I. Hoefer at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Adolph attended the Lone Star School that was near the family farm. Following school, for many harvests, Adolph worked as a farm laborer handpicking corn in Iowa. Later he was employed by the Farmer’s Co-op Elevator.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adolph, known as Curly to his family and friends, enlisted with the Marines on March 25, 1942. He returned 42 months later following the end of World War 2. Curly was stationed in the Pacific Islands and was among the Marine troops who invaded Guadalcanal Island on August 7, 1942. While there, he served in combat duty and manned an antiaircraft gun for 6 months. Curly then participated in the Invasion of Bougainville in November of 1943, going in as a rifleman and later manning an antiaircraft gun on the front lines. During this time he received a Presidential Unit Citation and 3 bronze stars. While serving in the South Pacific, Curly encountered several notable people: General Vandegrift in charge of the Guadalcanal Invasion, Admiral Halsey, in charge of the fleet at Bougainville, Randolph Scott and Bob Hope.

After the war, Curly returned to his job at the Farmer’s Co-op Elevator in Byron. He was married to Loriene Duensing on April 4, 1948 by Pastor H.J. Graf at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Byron. To this union 5 children were born: Arlis, Norris, Gayle, Denice and Kristi. Curly served as the Manager of the elevator for over 40 years. Curly enjoyed baseball, playing cards, fishing, gardening, bowling and attending the sporting events and other activities in which family members participated. Curly was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for many years and served on the Church Council and Memorial Committee. He was a member of the American Legion Post #205, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #15028, a charter member of the Byron Lions Club, served on the Byron Public School Board and a member of the Byron Volunteer Fire Department. Adolph lived in the Byron Community his entire life.

Survivors include his wife Loriene; sons, daughters-in-law, Arlis and Lynnis of Byron, Norris and Margene, Gayle and Carla of Superior; daughter Denice Hoops of Lincoln, daughter Kristi Peterson and husband Jay of Fairbury, sister Hilda Beckmann of Washington, Kansas, brother Ernest Eitzmann and wife Florence of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Otto and Martin and sister Amanda.

Funeral services will be on Monday, January 15, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Byron with Vicar Connie Raess and Pastor Daryl Nelson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorials are to the church in lieu of flowers.

Visitation will be on Saturday and Sunday at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury from 1:00-9:00 p.m. both days. Visitation on Monday will be 2 hours before the service at the church. Family prayer service will be held at the church on Monday at 10:00 a.m. On-line condolences may be left at www.gerdesmeyerfh.com.