Etzel was born in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Kingdom of Bavaria.
He completed an apprenticeship in brewing, and joined the Central Union of Brewery Workers in 1895.
He devoted much of his time to the union, and served on its agitation committee for Northern Bavaria.
[1] In 1904, Etzel began working full-time for the union, based in Hamburg, and in 1907, he was elected as its president.
[1] He was also a leading figure in the formation of the International Secretariat of Brewery Workers, serving as its general secretary.