Walter W. Kortmann Jr. 1936 -1985

KORTMAN, BRIGGLE, MARTH, WIEGEL, EWOLDT, WRAY, SCHWITTERS, ALBERTS, RUCHTI, LUTZ, GUNDY

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 12/13/2023 at 22:36:49

Walter W. Kortmann Jr. was born on November 21, 1936, on a family farm in Crawford County, Iowa, the son of Walter and Esther Briggle Kortmann, Sr. He died on Thursday, July 11, 1985 at the Clearfield Hospital in Clearfield, Penn., at the age of 48.

Walter spent his formative years on his family's farm in Crawford County. He received his early education at St. Paul's Lutheran School, Hanover Township. He graduated from the Charter Oak High School in 1954.

Walter was united in marriage to the former Elaine Marth on August 31, 1956, at the Friedens Evangelical and Reform Church in Schleswig. Together they made their first home in Sioux City where Walter was employed by Kaplon Wholesale Grocers and later by Armour and Company. In 1958 they moved to the Schleswig community. Walter began his employment with Farmland Foods in Denison in 1959. In 1968 they moved to the Kortmann family farm east of Ricketts where he started a registered Angus operation. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard from 1954 to 1962. He was currently serving as vice-chairman and chief steward of U.F.C.W. Local 440 at Farmland in Denison.

Walter was preceded in death by his father Walter, Sr. and one sister La Verna Wiegel. Survivors include his wife Elaine of Schleswig, three daughters, Penny, Mrs. Joe Ewoldt of Charter Oak, Roxanne, Mrs. Russell Wray and Sheila Schwitters both of Denison, two grandsons, Jeremy Joseph and Dustin William, and one granddaughter, Jessica Elaine. Also surviving is his mother, Esther Kortmann of Schleswig, and four sisters, Alice, Mrs. Melvin Alberts of Hooper, Nebr., Paula, Mrs. Carl Ruchti of Ida Grove, Dorothy, Mrs. Art Lutz of Denison, Wilma Gundy of El Dorado Springs, Mo., as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 15, 1985, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hanover Township. Interment was in the St. Paul's Cemetery. The Rev. S.W. Holstein officiated at the services and graveside rites. Joyce Green served as organist for the services with Art Beeck serving as soloist. Hymns for the services included ""I'm But a Stranger Here,"" and ""How Great Thou Art"" with ""Rock of Ages"" as the congregational hymn. Serving as honorary pallbearers were John Simon, Donovan Brink, Robert Alberts, Robin Marth, Robert L. Hanson, and Paul David Ruchti. Serving as pallbearers were Paul Edward Briggle, George Reitano, Jeff Kloewer, Lloyd Carlson, Chris Sands, and Arnold Grote. Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of the Huebner Funeral Home of Denison.

Transcribed by: Thomas Kruse