Harold Robert Nitzke

SSN: 551-38-7805

Veteran US Army Air Corps in Bavaria in 1945

Harold Robert "Bud" Nitzke, 91, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was born April 10, 1915, in Storm Lake, Iowa, and graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. In World War II he was a tech sergeant and served as an administrative specialist with the 8th Air Force. He was stationed at the Salinas Army Air Base for two years, where he met his wife, Priscilla, at the U.S.O. They were married in the chapel at the air base. He was then stationed in England and France. After the war he settled in Salinas and worked for 31 years for the State Board of Equalization as a compliance supervisor.

He enjoyed playing tennis at Central Park and bowling. He spent many summers at the family cabin in the Sierra where he loved fishing, chopping wood, being with the family, and teaching the grandchildren to fish. He had a long and wonderful life with his wife of 62 years, children, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Bacon.

Military service:U.S. Air Force

Survivors:Wife, Priscilla; daughter, Karen (John) MacDonald of Morgan Hill; son, John of Salinas; son-in-law, Gary Bacon of Salinas; brother, William (Lucille) of Storm Lake; sister, Dorothy (Donald) Schultz of Plainfield, Ill.; grandchildren, Laura MacDonald, John MacDonald, Megan MacDonald, Casey Bacon, Christina Bacon; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service:2:30 p.m., Friday, May 12, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 315 E. Alvin Drive, Salinas.

Memorials:In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church; Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association, P.O. Box 2480, Monterey, Calif. 93940; or donor's favorite charity.

Arrangements:Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel, 41 W. San Luis St., Salinas.