Herwig Georg Schutzler

Herwig Georg Schutzler, 89, of Lititz, PA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Brethren Village. Born in Laudschen, a small village in German East Prussia (now Lithuania), he was the son of the late Heinrich Schutzler and Magdalena Markscheit. He was the devoted husband of Adelheide (Heidi) Schutzler, his beloved wife of 66 years, who preceded him in death in September 2025. Following the end of World War II, Herwig lived in East Germany from 1945 until 1955. On May 15, 1955, Herwig and his brother Wolfgang defected—escaping from East to West Berlin in search of asylum. That courageous act defined the man he became. From that day forward, he referred to May 15 as “Freedom Day.” In 1960, he and Heidi moved to the United States, where they built a life grounded in perseverance and ambition. In 1989, he revisited the exact location where he and his brother had escaped. He chiseled off a piece of the Berlin Wall to celebrate the reunification of Germany. One of the proudest moments of his life came when he and Heidi became U.S. citizens. From that day on, they never missed an election, cherishing the right to vote as a symbol of the freedom he had once risked everything to gain. Herwig lived a life marked by curiosity, creativity, and a deep appreciation for learning. He was a member of the National Geographic Society, a financial sponsor of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Air and Space Museum. Herwig was a highly skilled cartographer and artist, with several works featured in the U.S. Library of Congress. He is the published author of Haunted by WWII and History of the R.R. Donnelley & Sons Cartographic Services. He was an avid reader with a keen interest in geology, the natural sciences, history, astronomy, and comparative religion. He was also a passionate amateur photographer and videographer, always eager to capture the beauty of the many places he traveled to for work or on adventure with Heidi. Herwig is survived by his sons, Michael (Cari) Schutzler and Peter (Kate) Schutzler; four grandchildren, Magdalena (Annie) Schutzler, Megan (Cole) Manaster, Erik Schutzler, and Hannah Schutzler; and two great-granddaughters. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Traute Reichel, and his brother, Wolfgang Schutzler. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Brethren’s Village Chapel, 3009 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Interment will be private. Herwig was deeply appreciative of the sacrifices made by our military men and women. He asked that no flowers be sent and that any memorial contributions be made to the Disabled Veterans Organization at DAV.org