Mrs. LEONARD (Vera Julia Stoskopf) STORTZ 1903-2001

BARTH, STOSKOPF, STORTZ, THOMPSON, AKRE, SCHIRM

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 12/15/2007 at 17:36:02

Vera Stortz

Vera J. Stortz, 97, of Waukon, died Mon., March 5, 2001, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Thurs., March 8 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Allen Schmitt officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 4 p.m. scripture service.

Vera Julia Stortz was born on Aug. 7, 1903, on the Pleasant Township, rural Decorah farm of her parents, Diebold and Julia (Barth) Stoskopf. She grew up in Winneshiek County and attended rural schools there.

On April 3, 1923, she married Leonard Stortz at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Decorah.

Together they farmed at several places in Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties before moving to Union Prairie Township in 1940 and then to Waukon in 1968.

Vera took part in much of the work on the farm as well as tending to the household. Her family was very important to her. She crocheted and sewed, making many of her children's clothes. She also was a good cook and spent time gardening and canning. She enjoyed playing cards and raising flowers. Vera was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Farm Bureau.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; a grandson, Michael; a great-granddaughter, BreAnn; a sister, Mayme Thompson; and brothers Vernon and Harry Stoskopf, as well as two younger brothers.

Survivors include three daughters, Margaret Stortz of Waukon, and Elizabeth (Ron) Akre and Patricia (Russell) Schirm, both of Bella Vista, AZ; two sons, Francis (Kathryn) Stortz and James (Shirley) Stortz, both of Waukon; 35 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Casketbearers were Steve, Brian, and Joe Stortz, Paul and Jim Akre, and Jeff and Daniel Schirm.

Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family.

Waukon Standard, March 7, 2001