Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries..... Vetter, Sr. , Gerald John  December 21 2004
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K T bluewolf@onemain.com December 24, 2004, 3:08 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Gerald John Vetter, Sr. 
May 21, 1922 - December 21, 2004 

A celebration of our fathers life, as well as a tribute to the greatest 
generation, who gave so much and asked so little, will be held on Monday, 
December 27, 2004 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church at 12 Noon. 
Gerald John Vetter, Sr., an avid fly fisherman, and past president of Kern 
River Fly Fishers, waded off peacefully into the stream of his dreams where 
every German Brown is at least 20 inches long and there are no limits or 
licenses required during the wee hours of December 21, 2004. It was simply 
Gods decision to have him spend Christmas with his wife of 53 years, Enid, who 
preceded him in death last year. The patriarch and the matriarch of the Vetter 
brood are together again, celebrating the holidays in heavenly style.

Dad was a fighter pilot during WWII, and he, and the men and women of the 
World War II generation shared so many common values: duty, honor, country, 
personal responsibility, and the marriage vows. Marriage for Dad was a 
commitment, and divorce not an option. We, your children Margaret Browne, Beth 
Vetter, Terry Vetter-Kent, Gerald Vetter Jr., Pat Vetter, Kathleen Newman, and 
Carol Archuleta, as well as your grandchildren and great-grandchild know how 
deeply you missed Mom, as you valiantly carried on without your soul mate 
during the last year and a half. We honor you, Dad, for the values you held 
dear to your heart, the lessons you have taught us over the course of our life 
spans, and the patience and tolerance you demonstrated as your adult children 
stumbled and bumbled down the path of life. On a lighter note, many of us will 
also miss your low interest rates and your flexible payment plans.

For those of you who were fortunate enough to have known him, you know of his 
quick wit, his acerbic sense of humor, and his passion for family, friends, 
fishing, flying, tennis and tomfoolery. He was born and raised in the San 
Joaquin Valley, and came of age during the Great Depression. In his youth, as 
well as during other stages of his life, he diligently worked on the family 
farm, performing manual labor that would be strictly illegal in this day and 
age. He willingly served his country during World War II, achieving the rank 
of First Lieutenant in the Marines. The stories he could tell of being a Sky 
Raider in Squadron VMF 452! And he wondered where some of his offspring got 
that wild hair in them that could only be tamed by experience and maturity! 
After completing his military service, he attended and graduated from Cal 
Berkeley, and went on to become a successful commercial insurance agent, 
working at the time of his retirement for the Marsh-McLennan Company.

He lived a full and blessed life, and was a truly honorable human being. He 
evolved over the course of his lifetime into the man we his children, his 
extended family, and his friends adore. We miss you so, Dad, but we understand 
your need to be with Mom. Merry Christmas to both of you, and to Joe, your 
grandchild who also preceded you in death.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of 
CBCC, for their exceptional care and dedication to our father. He considered 
you part of his extended family. Dad was an extremely spiritual man, who was 
dedicated to his faith, and unquestionably devoted to God and his family.

In consideration of our fathers wishes, in lieu of flowers, contributions to 
the Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future program at Our Lady of Perpetual Help 
would be highly preferred.

A reception at the Bakersfield Racquet Club will follow the memorial service. 
Please come and share your favorite memory of our beloved Dad. In our time of 
sadness and loss, don't let us forget what a character he was! 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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