On February 9, 2011, Harold Lee Baenziger joined his God. He was ninety-eight years old, and had lived a long, productive, and happy life. He was born in the Elm Creek Community. His Swiss and German ancestors settled that area. His mother was Hermina Lambrecht Baenziger, granddaughter of a Methodist Circuit Rider. Hermina instilled in Harold and her other children an unwavering faith which served them throughout their lives. Harold was a life-long Methodist, a member of the First Methodist Church of Seguin for most of his life, serving on many boards. Harold's father, Otto Baenziger, turned his truck farming and vegetable peddling enterprises into a thriving grocery business in Seguin, in partnership with his eldest son Harold, and, later, his youngest son, Rubin: Baenziger's Red and White (1934-1954), and Baenziger's Model Market, Inc. (1954-1993). Grandsons Roger and David joined the family business. Otto taught the value of honesty and hard work to all of his children, Harold, Melba, Nora [later married to George Atzger], Ethel (Eddie) [later married to Leon Pape], Violet [later married to Pete Armstrong], and Rubin [married to Freeda Standefer. Harold practiced those values in both his business and private life. Harold's faith, work ethic, and strong streak of optimism also motivated his civic and charity work. He was a Trustee for the Seguin Independent School District for many years, Trustee for State Bank and Trust for thirty-one years, and a member of the Seguin Noon Lion's Club for in excess of sixty-five years. His work for the Lions is legendary. He was Lion of the Year in 1983-1984, and recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow for Humanitarian Service. His service was mostly in fund-raising. Harold is shy about public speaking, but he is a master at salesmanship and fundraising. Because of the store, he knew a great many people who were customers. His son Roger recalls: In the Lion's Club they called Daddy the Lone Ranger because by himself he habitually raised more than a third of the money they got in tickets, or the Turtle Derby, or various raffles. He would get to them first. He would also ask them to wait for him to call on them next year. Other Lions would come along and would be told, "Oh, I've already given to Mr. Baenziger, or " I've promised to give my donation to Mr. Baenziger." He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion H. U. Wood Post #245; Sons of Herman member and recognized by them for his humanitarian work; Heritage Museum member (the building, which he had given to his children and grandchildren, was donated to the Museum Foundation by them in honor of Harold and Ethel Baenziger). He made generous gifts and other contributions to the First Methodist Church and his Alma Mater, Texas Lutheran College, where he graduated in 1934. In 2005 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award and has established a Chair in Music and a scholarship in his name. He has received numerous other awards from Texas Lutheran College, now T.L. U. Harold attended Elm Creek School, then Seguin High School where he played sports including football and baseball. He graduated in 1930. He had a dream of being the first in his family to go to college, but it was in the midst of the Great Depression, and he had to postpone his dream for two years while he worked at home. Finally, in 1932, a tuition loan from his uncle, his good grades, and his determination allowed him to enter Texas Lutheran College. He worked his way through college and in 1934 graduated with a degree in Accounting. His father approached him with a plan of starting a retail grocery store in Seguin, and they formed a partnership. Harold also served in the military during World War II. He volunteered to serve in the United States Navy, received Officer's Training in Massachusetts, and was assigned to Guam in the eastern theater of operations. Lieutenant Baenziger worked in the field of Communications, part of Admiral Nimitz's staff. His work, classified, involved decoding, and was highly secret at the time. Faith, community service, military service, honesty and hard work were all key to Harold Baenziger's character, but nothing was more valued by him than his family. He was close to all of his siblings, three of whom are still living. The oldest daughter, Melba passed away on May 9, 2002 . Nora, the second oldest daughter, died on April 7, 2005. His next sister, Violet Armstrong, still lives in Seguin, with her large extended family, as does Eddie Pape, the family historian. Rubin, the youngest, lives near New Braunfels. Prior to his death, Harold loved to get together with his brother and sisters to reminisce. Harold married Ethel Mary Trost, in a double wedding with his sister Nora, March 9, 1937, at the first Methodist Church in Seguin. She was his first love and devoted wife and mother to his children. Harold said this of his wife Ethel: "She deserves most of the credit for running our home and raising our children. She was a wonderful wife. She taught our children Christian ways." Ethel died on May 31, 1995. A lonely widower, Harold found love and companionship again with a Church friend and widow, Maxine Bergfeld Halm. They married and were together until her death December 30, 2008. Harold has said, "I have been blessed to have two wonderful wives." Harold and Ethel Baenziger's children were Roger Baenziger, Joan Baenziger[Mrs.Thomas Russell], Ruth Baenziger [Mrs. Dan Bates], and David Lee Baenziger (husband of Linda Heiser Baenziger. Grandchildren were a particular joy to Harold. They were Roger's children: Bart Baenziger, Julie Baenziger, and Jeff Baenziger; Chelsea Silay, and Jarrett Finch. Ruth and Dan's children were: Heather Bates and Kevin Bates. Great-grandchildren are: Cody Baenziger, Jesse Baenziger, Omar Lara, Rodrigo Lara, Kaela Marie Phillips, Landry Addison Phillips, Rowan Sage Bates, Barrett Logan Schulz, Jacan Daniel Bates, Piper Ann Bates, and Chelsea's son Aydin Silay. Harold loved to hunt, fish, play dominoes with his children and grandchildren. He particularly loved singing, which was both a joy and a comfort to him all of his life. He sang in choirs at church, at college, in the Navy at Guam, and he continued to sing until his death. Though a successful businessman, civic and philanthropic leader, his greatest legacy was the values he espoused and practiced. These values touched the lives of his family, friends, employees, and many others. Shortly before the end of Harold's sojourn here on earth, his children spoke of what they would like to thank him (and their mother) for. Roger said…they gave me every opportunity to succeed." Joan wrote that "Daddy worked hard to support us. He lives his values of family, integrity, courage. He lives his strong faith and still sings His praises." Ruth said, "I thank them for providing a safe, secure, and loving home, [and] teaching us the importance of faith and family." And David, thanks him for "instilling values such as honesty, fairness, and the importance of family [and] exhibiting the importance of volunteerism and charitable giving." Harold lived an exemplary life, and he will be missed. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Purdy officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in San Geronimo Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Bart Baenziger, Jeff Baenziger, Greg Baenziger, Kevin Bates, Jimmy Atzger, Kenny Ehrig, Danny Springs, and Wayne Pape. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the American Legion H. U. Wood Post 245 and the Seguin Noon Lion's Club. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 710 N. Austin, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or to the Harold and Ethel Baenziger Scholarship Fund at Texas Lutheran University, Development Office, 1000 West Court Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155-9989.