Robert Lewis Ertel

A celebration of life for Robert Lewis Ertel, 73, a 35-year resident of Carson City, will be from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Ertel home in Lakeview Estates.

Mr. Ertel died Dec. 17, 2005. He was born June 17, 1932, in Westfield, Mass.

Mr. Ertel graduated from Westfield High School and was an Eagle Scout. In 1956, he graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor of science degree in forestry. He was a member of the OSU ROTC and later served in Korea for two years in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Ertel worked for the Bureau of Land Management as a fire-control officer in Ely, Elko and Carson City.

Mr. Ertel was an avid skier and taught for the Carson City Junior Ski Program. He became a member of the National Ski Patrol when he was 15, and was honored as a 50-year member in 1997. After retiring from the BLM, he worked as a professional ski patrolman at Heavenly Valley. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

Among his survivors are his wife of 47 years, Alice of Carson City; daughter Pam Ertel of Minden; daughter and son-in-law Becki and Bill Boehnke of Carson City; son and daughter-in-law, David and Nancy of Sydney, Australia; sisters Jane Cheney of East Longmeadow, Mass., and Marion Bradford of Farmington, Conn.; and grandchildren Mats and Tatum Boehnke of Carson City.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Cancer research, 1600 Medical Parkway, Carson City, NV 89703.

FitzHenry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.