Hoersch, Harold John 04/14/1918 ~ 9/20/2014 SAN DIEGO - Harold John Hoersch, 96, passed away peacefully September 20 at his home in San Diego, attended by his daughter, Dr. Gay Rudek of Riverside, and his son, Stanley Hoersch of San Diego. He was a retired restaurateur. Born April 14, 1918, in American Falls, Idaho, Harold was the third child of Rev. John Hoersch, an itinerant German Congregationalist minister, and Louise (Weber) Hoersch. Because of his father's profession, Harold spent his childhood living in various small towns in the Midwest, graduating from high school in Bazine, Kansas in 1935. He also attended college in Hays, Kansas for a year, while at the same time operating several garages/gas stations scattered throughout the surrounding farming area. Eventually, however, the lure to explore the West Coast tempted the young entrepreneur to resettle in San Diego, where he was able to find employment with Convair (later renamed General Dynamics). With the security of a steady job, Harold was able to entice Dorothy De Wald, his high school sweetheart from Kansas, to come West. The two were wed in Yuma, Arizona in 1942. In 1944, Harold and Dorothy became partial owners of the Juniper Cafe, a lunch counter with limited seating. When it became clear that World War II was winding down, the young couple made plans to develop their own family-oriented business: Harold was able to withdraw from working for Convair, and they developed their dream of opening up a restaurant which specialized in "home cooking." Over the decades, this modest start became three separate restaurants as well as the San Diego Meat Company. In between, Harold served as Vice-President of Atlas Hotels, and also President of the San Diego Restaurant Association. He was also an active member of the Lions' Club. Harold and Dorothy's original restaurant still exists as the Hob Nob Hill Restaurant on 1st Avenue and Juniper Street. Harold was predeceased by Dorothy, who died in 1991. He also outlived two older sisters (twins): Alma (Hoersch) Schlegel and Wilma (Hoersch) Wittmann of Kansas; and two younger brothers: Victor Hoersch of Quincy, Washington and Samuel Hoersch of San Diego. Besides his son Stanley and daughter Gay, Harold is survived by his son-in-law, Dr. Robert Rudek, and by his granddaughter, Sarah (Rudek) Zentner, her husband, Scott Zentner, and an infant great- granddaughter: Hannah Elizabeth Zentner, all of Riverside. He is also survived by four sisters: Esther (Hoersch) Whitehead of Tucson, Arizona; Arlene (Hoersch) Jones of East Wenatchee, Washington; Ruth (Hoersch) Jones of Spokane, Washington; Lois (Hoersch) Masterson of Bonita, California; and one younger brother: Joel Hoersch of Santee, California. A memorial service celebrating the life of Harold John Hoersch will be held in the First Presbyterian Church of San Diego's chapel at 320 Date Street near downtown on Saturday, September 27, at 1 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions in Harold's name be rendered to the First Presbyterian's "Ladle Ministry" feeding the homeless. Merkley - Mitchell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Published in U-T San Diego on Sept. 26, 2014