James E. Hurzeler

James E. Hurzeler died in his sleep on July 5, 2012. He was 94 years old. Jim is survived by his wife of 70 years, Coleen, his daughter, Pam, and son, Don. Jim and Coleen lived in Palos Verdes Estates together for nearly 60 years.

Jim was born in Battle Mountain, Nevada in 1918. He was raised in Wyoming and Colorado, alongside his parents, Ed and Clara and his sister, Nathelle Stollens, who is now living in Washington state. Jim served during World War ll in the Army Signal Corp…from Normandy to the heart of Germany. He served for a total of thirteen years in both the regular Army and the Reserves.

Jim Hurzeler enjoyed a long career in the aerospace industry in Southern California. He was with North American Aviation for over 30 years. During his time at North American (which became Rockwell) he worked on projects ranging from the X-15 rocket plane to the Apollo Program. He was proud to work on the B-70 and the HIMAT programs, as well as the B-1 bomber. Jim concluded his career as the head of Quality Assurance Research and Development for the B-2 stealth bomber, working at Northrop Aviation.

Jim was an active Ham Radio operator for most of his adult life, where he went by the call letters N6TKL. He was also one of the founding members of NART…the Neighborhood Amateur Radio Team…an emergency radio network for Palos Verdes.

Jim was a proud member of the Palos Verdes Breakfast Club for over 50 years. He has long looked forward to the reduced rate that the Breakfast Club offers to its deceased members.

Jim had several loves in his life…his family (including two grandkids and three great grand kids), his career, the home in Palos Verdes, his guitars and music and his country. But above all…he loved his wife.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275