Obituary of Horst Gottel

Horst Gottel of Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2023, just shy of his 85^th birthday.  Horst was born in Germany and became an apprentice at a shipbuilding yard where he learned his profession.  In 1958, at the age of 19, he emigrated to Canada.  He was eventually able to sponsor himself to further emigrate to the United States where he found employment at the Sun Shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania.  There is flourished in his career where he made scale models of projects to assure proper design before the final project was commenced.  Superintendents at the Yard were so impressed with his abilities that he worked o major engineering projects including the building of a giant derrick that went on the Glomar Explorer, a ship that had been commissioned by the United Stated to attempt salvage of a sunken Soviet nuclear submarine.  In later years, Horst continued working at Pennsylvania Shipbuilding as well as a local model company that builds corporate and museum displays.

Outside of his professional career, Horst was an exemplary family man.  He was married to the love of his life, Maxine, for 42 years before she passed. 

He was a dedicated father to his three children, Todd, Lori (Keith) and Scott (John) and loved his grandchildren.

Horst and Maxine always spent numerous hours working to improve the family home and gardens.  Horst was a true artist, but his humble nature would never acknowledge his true talents.  He was an amazing woodworker and could always be found tinkering around the house, painting, decorating, building ponds, gazebos, and gardens.  In addition, Horst was a self-taught wood-carver and created many amazing wood carvings of sea captains, tradesmen, and other more elaborate pieces that included Normal Rockwell’s self-portrait and recreations of the famous decoy carvers, the Ward brothers.  Horst loved to travel and was fortunate to take many trips with Maxine as well as continued travels after her passing. 

Horst is predeceased by his mother, Herta, and father Walter, both of Germany.  He is survived by his brother Joachim (Lidia) also of Germany.  His family is thankful for the wonderful life Horst lived and for the many excellent memories Horst helped create for the family.

Graveside Service: Friday, March 31st at 10:30AM at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 4010 Concord Rd., Aston, PA 19014.