William Edward Wurtz

CELEBRANT
Rev. Fr. Gerald Thury
MUSIC
Organist ~ Kathy Koenig
St. Leo Choir & Congregation
HONORARY URNBEARERS
Craig Wilson
Matt Wurtz
Leonard Hajek
Jerry Miller
Don Stewart
Al Vacknitz
MUSIC
Organist ~ Marcene Kniffen
St. Leo Choir & Congregation
Processional ~ “Come to Me”
Offertory Hymn ~ “We Remember”
Communion Hymn ~ “Amazing Grace”
Recessional ~“God Bless America”
William Edward Wurtz was born on Wednesday, March 17, 1920 on a farm near Tabor to John J. and Mary (Kudrna) Wurtz. He attended Breezy Hill School and then Pleasant Ridge School when the family moved just south of Tyndall. Bill farmed with his parents until he joined the Army in 1942, and he was stationed at Camp Barkley, Texas. In July of 1943, Loretta Blaha traveled by train to Sweetwater, Texas, where they were married. He was sent to England to fight in WWII and landed at Utah Beach on June 7, 1944 for the D-Day Invasion. From there, Bill went to Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Czechoslovakia with the 90th Division 344th C Battery FA (Artillery). Bill became lifelong friends with his comrades, known as “The Tough Hombres.” He missed the end of the war celebrations because of an eye injury, and was awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service. Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to Tyndall where he worked at the Farm Bureau, Base Hardware and Tyndall Auto until he began farming with his brother, John. Bill was a Deputy Sheriff in Bon Homme County from 1968 to 1975. He enjoyed playing pinochle until his eyesight deteriorated, and always loved dancing to and listening to polka music. He felt so fortunate to live in a community like Tyndall where friends and neighbors watch out for each other. Bill passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Society of Tyndall at the age of 89 years, 6 months and 6 days.
Bill’s memory will be cherished by his two children: son Jerry Wurtz of Des Moines, Iowa and daughter Beverly (Ray) Wilson of Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren: Craig Wilson, Briana (Wilson) Reinking, Matt Wurtz, and Laura (Wurtz) McNab; and three great-grandchildren: Lincoln Reinking and Kennedy and Adalyne Wurtz.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Loretta, in November of 2001, his parents, John J. and Mary Wurtz, two brothers, John and Fred, and two sisters, Gladys Rehurek and Tillie Hakl.