Surnames: GATZ TROYK SUSA BREDLAU WEIZENEGGER GREEN SCHULTZ MARONDE LAWLER KITTERMAN

----Source: TRIBUNE-RECORD-GLEANER (Loyal, Clark County, Wis.) 01/26/2005

Gatz, John M. (24 DEC 1919 - 18 Jan 2005)

John M. Gatz, 85, Greenwood, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 21, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwood. The Rev. Joseph Follmar officiated. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Greenwood. Pall bearers were James Bredlau, Dean Bredlau, Todd Bredlau, Gary Schultz Jr. Mark Molski and Gary Stockheimer.

John Martin Gatz was born on Dec. 24, 1919, in Chicago, Ill., to John and Mary [nee Troyk] Gatz. He was raised and educated in the Chicago area. He was drafted into the U. S. Army and served overseas during World War ll. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Chicago and worked for an optometrist making lenses for eyeglasses. He married Marian Susa on Feb. 16, 1945, in Chicago. They moved back to Greenwood to farm and raise a family. While farming, he also began driving school bus for the Greenwood School District, which he did for 30 years. His wife, Marian died in April of 1975. He then retired from farming later that year. He married Irene Schultz on March 19, 1976, in Greenwood. He lived in the town of Eaton until the time of his death. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #4963, and had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his family, woodworking, including lawn art and furniture, fishing and bowling.

He will sadly be missed by his wife, Irene, Greenwood; two daughters, Suzanne [Alfred] Bredlau, Neillsville, and Cheryl [Geb] Weizenegger, Fort Wayne, Ind.; one son, Robert Gatz, Belvidede, Ill.; one stepdaughter, Connie Green, Herrin, Ill.; one stepson, Gary [Rochelle] Schultz, Almond; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley [Robert] Maronde, Darien.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, Marian; one grandson; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bernice Lawler and Elynor Kitterman; and three brothers-in-law, Clyde Lawler, Robert Kitterman, and Howard Susa.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.