Eldon Lee Hetzel

Eldon Lee Hetzel

1/10/33 – 5/12/25

Eldon Lee Hetzel, 92, passed away in the early hours May 12, 2025.  Eldon will always be remembered for his great love for God. 

He was born on January 10th, 1933 in Quinter near to his tiny hometown of Collyer, Kansas to Harold Hetzel and Ella (Cooper) Hetzel. He graduated from Collyer High School as the Salutatorian which Eldon was quick to disclose was somewhat of a dubious honor since there were only three people in his graduating class.  He joined the Army Airborne Infantry unit in 1951.  He went to Fort Benning in Georgia for Para Trooper training and completed 46 jumps combined there and in Kyushu Japan when he completed his active service in 1953.  Following active service, he served in the Reserves.

Eldon moved to Wichita before journeying on to spend a year attending Pittsburg State University to study Graphic Communications.  Later, he returned to Wichita to wed Mary Belle (Gwinup) on October 10, 1955.  He worked at many different careers from a milk man to owning a cleaning business.  At age 28, Eldon was saved in a life-changing accident where he found himself bargaining with God in the Sea of Cortez.  He kept his vow to serve God for the rest of his life no matter what vocation he had.  As he matured in his relationship with Jesus, he convinced his wife Mary Belle to join him in his evangelical work.  They had a food ministry where they distributed her homemade banana bread & jellies that were labeled, “Jesus is coming soon!”  They were invited to travel all over the country to speak and serve in different churches which also included their homebase of Wichita.

After 48 years of marriage to Mary Belle, she passed.  He later married Bev Love in 2007 at 74 years old.  He continued sharing his gift of exhortation wherever he went from shopping for groceries to counseling Pastors.  Eldon and Bev were involved and attended Eldon’s church, the Wichita South Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday and Bev’s, Central Community Church on Sunday.  They loved both church families and wouldn’t have given up either one of them.  Eldon made a lasting impact at both.

Survivors include wife Beverly, son Bryon and daughter-in-law Kim (Bales) Hetzel,  daughter Tonnya Lewis, and Step-daughter Angie Love. Grandson Eric Hetzel married to Mary Beth who reside in Colorado Springs.  They blessed Eldon with five great grandchildren, Juliet, Kate, Henry, and twins Elise & Anna.  His daughter, Tonnya also blessed him with a grandson Jacob Lewis who made a point of moving back to Wichita to spend time with his grandpa Eldon.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Ella, his first wife Mary Belle, Brother Norman and his 23-year-old grandson Ryan Hetzel.

A celebration of his life will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Wichita South Seventh-day Adventist Church (820 W. 27th St. S., Wichita KS 67217) - Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall

In lieu of flowers donations will be accepted by Good Shepherd Hospice:  https://www.goodshepherdhospice.com/ or mailed to: 7829 E. Rockhill Street, #403, Wichita, KS 67206 and to Wichita South Seventh-day Adventist Church:  https://www.wichitaadventist.org/ or mailed to: 820 W. 27th Street South, Wichita, KS 67217.

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