Henry Vierregger

Henry E. Vierregger – known to all who loved him simply as “Hank” – passed away suddenly on April 24, 2023, at the age of 87 in his home in Seal Beach, CA. Born September 5, 1935, in Omaha, NE, to Herman Vierregger and Elisabeth Glessman Vierregger, he was the 11^th of 12 children. Older brothers and their father gradually moved to Long Beach to work in the booming port post-WWII; Elisabeth and Hank followed in 1951, and Hank graduated from Wilson High School in 1953, then spent a year at Long Beach City College. He transferred to UC Berkeley, but his education was interrupted by a draft notice and questionable performance in Spanish II, and he spent 19 months in peacetime Germany as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. After discharge, he returned to Berkeley to earn a B.S. degree in Business Administration. His great honor while at Cal was his membership and service in his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. He served as Chapter President while in college and continued as an active, enthusiastic member of the Board of Trustees for the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation at the time of his passing.

His first job out of college was with the IRS, but by the late 1960s he’d passed the CPA exam and owned his own accounting practice, Vierregger Accountancy Corporation, which supported and served generations of clients, associates, and staff over the next 55 years. In August 1967 he married the love of his life, Susan Herrick. Their only child, and sparkle in his eyes, Kristen, came along in the Fall of 1968.

He loved his work, but more importantly, he loved his staff and clients and considered them treasured friends. Finding success in his hard work, he was ever a kind, gentle giant of a man whose philanthropy was delivered with grace and humility. Always remembering and motivated by his family’s humble beginnings as a family of 12 in the Midwest who survived the Great Depression and the generosity of generations.

His family was number one in his life. His wife, Sue, the center of his world for 55 wonderful years; their daughter, Kristen, was the source of his pride. The love he showed to others: his daughter-in-law, Deej; Alex y su familia – Alex like an adopted son to Hank; all his nieces and nephews, and their children as they’ve come along; his love for all was genuine, generous, and enormous. To be his friend was to be his friend forever.

Travel brought him great joy; with Sue by his side, they adventured from one corner of the world to the next, making life-long friends wherever they wandered and returning with stories of drama, color, laughter – and always great love for those he befriended on his journeys.

He is preceded in death by his father Herman, mother Elisabeth, sister Dorothy, and brothers Fredrick, William. Herman, Raymond, Ralph, Donald, Robert, Kenneth, Melvin, and Paul. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and daughter, Kristen and her wife, Deej Delorenzo, nieces and nephews, their children, and his cats Tig and Chim who maybe miss him most of all.

In lieu of flowers, Hank would be pleased if remembrances be made in the form of contributions in his honor to the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation at 5395 Emerson Way, Indianapolis, IN 46226, or by visiting

https://www.pkpfoundation.org/honoring-brother-vierregger/

or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Cypress, CA.

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