Obit: Bertz, Robert R. #2 (1925 - 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bertz, O’Reilly, Ayers, Seehafer, Geiger, Priebe, Kramer, Morrow, Bogdonovich, Kraeger, Gruber, Will, Sanford, Bushnell, Hayden, Ottoway, Brice

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/18/2018

Bertz, Robert Richard (11 August 1925 – 14 April 2018) With Flag

Robert R. Bertz, 92, of Loyal peacefully passed away at Three Oaks Health Services in Marshfield Saturday, April 14, 2018.

Robert Richard Bertz was born Aug. 11, 1925, in Marshfield to Reuben and Cecilia (O’Reilly) Bertz. He was raised on the family farm and received his education in the Loyal area, graduating from Loyal High School in 1944. After completing his education, Bob worked on the family farm until he was united in marriage to Joan D. Ayers July 1, 1952, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. He entered the U. S. Army May 6, 1953 and served during the Korean War until his honorable discharge May 12, 1955. He returned to Loyal where he held several jobs, including driving gas truck for Seeman Gas & Oil, Skelgas and Standard Oil. He was a rural mail carrier for the Loyal Post Office for 15 years, retiring in 1992. After his retirement, Bob remained very active in the Loyal community and resided in Loyal until entering Three Oaks in 2017.

Bob’s interests revolved around God, family and country.

He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, where he served on the church council and as an usher and Eucharistic minister for many years; was a very active member of the Loyal American Legion Post 175 for 50 years, having served as post commander and member of the Honor Guard; a member of the Neillsville VFW Post 2241; a member of The Forty and Eight honor society of American veterans; a member of the National Association for Retired Federal Employees; was a Scout coordinator for many years; was a member of the Knights of Columbus Lady of Fatima Council #4963; was a volunteer Clark County caregiver; was a porch greeter for The Highground and served on the Korean Memorial committee. He was a charter member of the Loyal Ambulance Service and an EMT. The United States Flag was raised and lowered daily by Bob for decades.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Joan of Loyal; his children: Kathleen (Kenneth) Seehafer of River Falls, Anthony (Tammy) Bertz of The Dalles, OR, Benjamin (Becky) Bertz of Champlin, MN, Matthew (Tina) Bertz of Mosinee, Sarah (Brian) Geiger of Loyal, Maxine Priebe (Kent Kramer) of Holmen and Daniel Bertz of Wausau; seven grandchildren: Zachary Bertz, Alisha and Nick Seehafer, Teah Morrow, Dylan Geiger and Rachel and Christopher Priebe; two great-grandchildren, Lennox and Wes Morrow; Three sisters: Marilyn Bogdonovich of Greenwood, Coleen Kraeger of Cudahy and Donna Gruber of Madison; sisters-in-law: Charlotte Ayers and Dorothy Bertz; brothers-in-law Wendell (Ruthe) and Melvin (Marion) Ayers; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-and-father-in-law, Florence and Claude Ayers; two brothers: William and David Bertz; and five sisters: Deanna Will, Rosemary Sanford, Virginia Bushnell, Joann Hayden and Darlene Ottoway.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 19, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. Rev. Steve Brice will officiate, and burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church Wednesday, April 18, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again Thursday, from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Pallbearers will be Dylan Geiger, Nick Seehafer, Christopher Priebe, Luke Morrow, Ken Seehafer and Brian Geiger. Loyal American Legion Post 175 will conduct Military Rites.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal is assisting the family with arrangements.