- Date Of Birth: March 16, 1928
- Date Of Death: November 8, 2019
- State: Michigan
Rudolph William Hirzel peacefully passed away at home on November 8, 2019. This extraordinary man was born in Toledo, Ohio on March 16, 1928 to Swiss-Americans who both emigrated from Canton Bern, Switzerland. His childhood was filled with work and play at Hirzel Canning, the family business. After the death of both his parents, he joined the Army in 1945, after convincing his sister to allow him to conscript at age 17. A World War II veteran, he served on the Pacific Front in Korea and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Under the G.I. Bill, he matriculated into the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (now called Michigan State University). He was awarded a B.S. in Agriculture and then a M.S. in Food Technology. At M.S.C., he met the love of his life, Myra Hathaway. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married October 29, 1954, soon after their graduations. The couple moved to Corvallis, Oregon, where Rudy was teaching at Oregon State University. Over the next two years, Robin and Rudy were born and the family returned to Toledo, Ohio.
Rudy then pursued his doctorate at The Ohio State University, and in 1964, Rudy was conferred a Ph.D. in Horticulture, specializing in Microbiology. His doctoral hooding ceremony was attended by his wife and five children, given the addition of three boys, Fritz, Andy and Nic. The same year, Rudy was hired by the Kellogg Company and, a few months after moving to Battle Creek, Michigan, Amy was born.
For 25 years, the Kellogg Company benefited from Rudy’s vast knowledge of food technology, food processing and food science. As the Director of Advanced Technology, he was instrumental in the development and improvement of almost every food product produced during this time period. He specialized in constantly pushing new technologies and food processing innovations to maintain Kellogg’s lead in the industry. He wrote numerous patents for the company and was a mentor and role model for many of his employees. He continued to be consulted on product development by various companies after his retirement.
Rudy’s ‘hobby’ was a medium-sized farm near Climax, Michigan. He ran the farm with his family and, after retirement, devoted his full-time attention to this second career. He was active in local environmental and agricultural issues and provided support to township and county boards. He often participated in agricultural research studies and innovative crop methods and was recognized as Farmer of the Year by Calhoun County Farm Bureau. He served his community as a board member; Climax-Scotts Schools, Lakeview General Osteopathic Hospital, Leroy Township. He loved to travel throughout the United States and never stopped his desire to learn and experience more. He loved challenges, from crossword puzzles to solving complex problems. He was quick-witted, easily saw the humor in life and loved a great joke.
He is survived by his wife, Myra (née Hathaway), having celebrated 65 years of marital bliss, and his children son Rudolph (wife, Denise) of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Daughter-in-law Karen (Dan) Couture of Brownstown Township, Michigan, son Andrew (Tamara) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, son Nicholson (Kris) of Augusta, Michigan, daughter Amy (Michal) Olszewski of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was preceded in death by two children, daughter Robinson Schneider and son Frederic Hirzel, along with his parents Carl and Lena Hirzel, siblings Karl Hirzel, Sr., Catherine Stucky, Helen Haas and Elsie Rose Marie Hirzel. He was the patriarch of a large clan, with 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, numerous nephews and nieces and those fortunate to be his ‘children by choice’. He could always be relied upon to impart his wisdom with great conviction and his advice was surprisingly concise and accurate. His life was full of family and love and he garnered great respect.
