Harold K. Gulzow, 95, of North Platte, formerly of Hastings, died Sept. 20, 2013, in North Platte.
He was born July 4, 1918, in Grand Island to Wilhelm F. and Emma (Ritter) Gulzow. He grew up in Grand Island and was a 1938 graduate of Grand Island High School. He was employed by Buck’s Boot erie in Grand Island. He entered the United States Army in 1942 and served in the South Pacific with the 763rd Tank Battalion, 96th Infantry Division in the Leyte and Okinawa campaigns. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. On Aug. 2, 1949, he was united in marriage to Florence June Stover in Omaha. They moved to Hastings in 1951 where he owned Harold’s Service. In 1952, he began working as a salesman and department manager at Montgomery Ward. He retired from Wards in 1981.
Harold was a member of First United Methodist Church, life member of American Legion Post No. 11, life member of VFW Post No. 1346, life member of the 96th Infantry Division Association, Midwest Lodge No. 317 A.F. & A. M., Hastings YMCA, Nebraska Realtors Association, Hastings College Crimson Connection, North Platte Concert Association and North Platte Town Hall Lecture Series.
In his younger days, Harold was a Red Cross lifeguard at Pier Park in Grand Island. He played baseball with a number of area town teams and also played with the Chapman Outlaws softball team. Harold enjoyed woodworking, travel, swimming at the YMCA, the Hastings Senior Center, socializing with friends and family, attending Army reunions and sporting events. One of his highlights was visiting the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. with the Heartland Honor Flight.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Florence June Gulzow; his parents; his brothers and sisters, Marie Hougen, Frederick Gulzow, Doris Gulzow, Henrietta Windolph, Lawrence Gulzow, Marguerite Liporada, Lloyd Gulzow, Arthur “Pooch” Gulzow, Howard Gulzow and Wilhelm “Bill” Gulzow.
Survivors are his son, Steven (Deborah) Gulzow, of North Platte; his sister, Lorraine Ocampo, of Grand Island; and nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church. Condolences may be shared at lbvfh.com.
Services with Masonic memorial tribute will be at 10:30 a.m., today, at First United Methodist Church, in Hastings, with the Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Rathod officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Visitation is one hour prior to service at the church. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is in charge of the arrangements.