Obituary: Fencl, Harold R.
Harold passed away on September 9, 2014, at the age of 80.
He was born June 26, 1934 in Minot, ND, to Otis and Esther Fencl.
He grew up in Bonner’s Ferry and Hayden Lake, ID.
He was given the nickname “Skip” as a child and it stuck with him through life.
Harold began his Air Force career in November 1951.
He took basic training at Sheppard Air Force Base in TX.
In June 1952 he was sent to Keesler Air Force Base for Ground Radio Operator training and graduated in September 1952.
Also in June 1952 he completed his GED requirements and was granted a High School Equivalency Certificate from the University of Idaho.
In the fall of 1952, he was sent to the 1st Communication Squadron in Nagoya, Japan.
He performed Base Operator duties until April 1955 and from there went to Hurlburt Field #9 in Florida.
He left the Air Force for college in August 1955 and attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, ID then moved to North Idaho Junior College in Coeur d’ Alene, ID.
He reenlisted in the Air Force in August 1956, from there going to Germany as a radio operator, where he worked in the Communications Squadron.
On July 6, 1958 he married Patricia Gamble in Germany.
He served in the Air Force in many locations over the years, including: Geiger Field in Spokane, WA, Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, Larson AFB in Moses Lake, WA, McChord AFB in Tacoma, WA and Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany.
In 1968 Harold was sent to the 6981st Security Squadron on Elmendorf AFB, AK, where he discovered his love of Alaska.
He was promoted to Master Sergeant in 1972 and sent to the Security Squadron as the NCO in Charge of the Communications Center on Offutt AFB, NE.
He retired July 1, 1973 and moved back to Alaska in August 1974.
He worked a short period of time as a janitor until selected as a Corrections Officer.
He and his wife moved to Kenai in November 1978 where he continued to serve as a Corrections Officer until he retired in July of 1987.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kenai where he served as a Deacon for 23 years.
He and his wife moved to Anchorage in October 2007 and became members of the Grandview Baptist Church.
Harold was active with the Alaska Peace Officers Association, both in Kenai and in Anchorage.
He was also active in the Gideons in Kenai and he continued his participation in Anchorage right up until he passed.
He was a lifetime member of the Air Force Sergeant’s Association and the Disabled American Veterans.
Harold was also a lifetime member of the NRA and gave to many charities, both of his time and his money.
He and his wife of 56 years loved to travel all over the world, enjoying cruising and their timeshare in Mexico.
Harold loved fishing and hunting, spending time with his family and his church family, traveling and, throughout his life he dedicated his time, energy and efforts to his church.
He was very proud of his military career and attended annual reunions with the men with whom he served in Japan until he could no longer travel.
He is survived by his wife Patricia, children Lisa, Renee and David, son-in-law Kent, daughter-in-law Margaret, grandchildren Kayla, Bryan, Kyle, Karl and Ryann, and soon to be granddaughter-in-law Rose, brothers Myron and Larry, sisters Linda and Jarre and families.
His interment will be at the National Cemetery at JBER.
Services will be held at Grandview Baptist Church on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Gideons International or to Parkinson research.