Obit: Bartz, Laurence Elmer (1920 - 2009)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bartz, Albrecht, Schmidt, Poziombke, Grant, Palladino, Voigt, Helm, Trewyn

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 7, 2009

Bartz, Laurence Elmer (20 September 1920 - 2 January 2009)

Laurence Bartz, 88, of Neillsville died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville.

Laurence Elmer Bartz was born Sept. 20, 1920, in the Town of York, Clark County, the son of Alfred and Bertha (Albrecht) Bartz. He attended and graduated from Granton High School in 1939 and then farmed on the family farm, eventually taking over ownership. He was united in marriage to Irene Schmidt June 20, 1953, at the Zion Lutheran Missouri Synod Church in Granton. In 1971, Laurence stopped farming, and they moved to Marinette, where he worked as a welder at Lloyd’s Manufacturing for 11 years before retiring. They moved back to the area in 1991, settling in Neillsville.

Laurence was a member of the Zion Lutheran Missouri Synod Church in Granton. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; two sons, Gary (Bonnie) Bartz of Granton and Ken (Mary) Bartz of Anchorage, AK; three daughters, Rene (Tom) Poziombke of Anchorage, AK, Janet Grant of Marshfield and Debbie (Dan) Palladino of Orlando, FL; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Kathy (Jim) Voigt of Marshfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters, Irma, Gertrude, LeNora, Evelyn and Mildred.

A Memorial Service for Laurence will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at the Zion Lutheran Missouri Synod Church in Granton. Pastor John Trewyn will officiate. Music will be provided by Caroline Helm, organist. Interment will be in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Honorary Casketbearers are Chris Bartz, Joe Bartz, Matt Bartz, Adam Grant, David Grant, Daniel Palladino and Kevin Poziombke.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Laurence’s family with funeral arrangements.

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