In March 1955, John A. Noetzel, Jr. took a significant step in his young life, enlisting in the United States Army alongside his brother, Walt. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John would later make Salem, New Hampshire, his home for 57 years, where he and his wife raised their three children.

Mr. Noetzel’s military career was defined by his technical aptitude within the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Serving in Korea during the post-armistice period, he specialized in radar repair, a high-skill field critical to the era’s defense infrastructure. His service concluded with an honorable discharge in March 1958.

The expertise John gained in the Signal Corps transitioned directly into his civilian life. Following his service, he earned a Master of Business Administration from New Hampshire College and began a prolific 36-year career with Raytheon. Retiring as a Logistics Engineering Manager, his work—deeply rooted in the skills first learned in the Army—took him to locations across the globe. He passed away peacefully at his home in Salem in late 2020.