(†)Jack Oetzel (211)
Born: 9/8/1927 Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Died: 8/19/2003 Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Parents: Theodore “Ted” Elmer Oetzel and Lorena Mae Nee. Rowe
Spouse: Fannie “Hazel” Higgins (
Children:
Bio:
Jack’s Honorable Discharge
Discharged Navy 7/20/46, wife located in Millington, TN.
Jack in Uniform
U.S. Navy
In 1930, Jack is just a toddler but living in a very interesting family-owned home at 127 Schertz Street in East Peoria, Tazewell County, IL. Jack is the youngest of the Oetzel children and his father is a very successful merchant at a Tractor Manufacturer, which is indicated by his $20,000 net wealth (highest I have seen in my research up to this point). Another sign of wealth is the fact that Jack’s parents have also allowed four roomers into their house. All of these “roomers” are young single men who all work labor jobs other than the timekeeper, who also works at the tractor manufacturing plant and would have been around baby Jack as he was learning how to be a child. It is interesting that two of these laborers are Bridge Carpenters, although the only possible major bridge I can find is the steel cantilever bridge that predated the McClugage Bridge, built in 1939.
Glendale School
1940 class Picture
Jack and Ron
1947
By 1940, 12-year-old Jack and family have moved to rural Groveland, Tazewell County, IL. Dad Theodore is now a machine operator at a tractor factory, working alongside a majority of working age male neighbors, and some female, in the tractor factory industry. Jack and his sister are at school, most likely the Glendale School.
On October 21, 1944, 17-year-old Jack enlists into the U.S. Navy and on December 12, 1945, was married to Fannie “Hazel” Higgins in Tipton County, TN. Jack would be honorably discharged on July 20, 1946. In 1946, Jack and Hazel would also have their first child, Ron, followed by Clyde “Duke” in 1952.
In 1956, Jack was working as a service man and living at 323 Elmwood St. in East Peoria, IL. Jack would live nearly three years longer than Hazel, and passed away at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, IL.
Jack and Hazel