Herb Statzer

Herbert Joseph Statzer, 80, of Harmony passed away Tuesday at the Passavant Retirement Community.

Born Aug. 15, 1931, in Richmond, Ind., he was the son of the late Joseph Ray and Marguerite Dean (Wright) Statzer.

While growing up in Indiana, Herb played baseball on many community teams. In the greatest game he ever pitched, he had 22 strikeouts. He was a graduate of Centerville High School in Indiana, where he held several state track records.

He proudly served his country during the Korean War in the U.S. Air Force as a rescue boat master captain.

In 1985, after 30 years of dedicated service as a supervisor, he retired from the Atlantic Richfield Co. in Monaca.

He was a Golden Glove boxer whose two-second knockout is the fastest on record.

He was a member of the Zelienople American Legion Post 474 and the Harmony Moose. He enjoyed golf, tennis, weight lifting, listening to music and reading. Herb was an accomplished fly fisherman who tied his own flies and enjoyed bass, walleye and musky fishing. During the course of his life, he owned and operated several boats.

For more than 12 years, he coached Little League and American Legion Baseball for the Zelienople and Harmony communities. He mentored and influenced the development of many young adults in the community and was a friend and confidant to many throughout his life. Above all, his greatest joy was raising his three children.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, the mother of his children, Sarah J. (Mitchell) Leasher; his three children, John R. (Phyllis) Statzer of Butler, Mary A. Statzer of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Donna J. Statzer and her fiance, Kevin Reilly, of Zelienople; his two brothers, James (Kathy) Statzer of Prospect and Jack (Sue) Statzer of Zelienople; his sister, Shirley (Ray) Lucas of Ellwood City; his three grandchildren, Nathan (Abbey) Statzer, Katelyn Statzer and Cory Bauman; and seven nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary A. Watson.

STATZER — Herbert Joseph Statzer passed away on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Herb's family will welcome friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Boylan Funeral Home, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. The funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Peter J. Everett officiating.Herb was an avid reader and strong supporter of the public library. As a tribute to his life, contributions may be made to the Zelienople Area Public Library, 227 S. High St., Zelienople, PA 16063.Online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.